Methodology for Identifying Host Factors Involved in West Nile Virus Infection

The West Nile virus (WNV) infection is a major medical problem for humans and some domesticated animals. WNV infection of host cells involves the interplay of the virus with several host factors. Identification of the host factors impacting on WNV infection can enhance our understanding of virus infection mechanisms, host immune defense mechanisms, and also reveal novel host targets that can be developed as antivirals. RNA interference (RNAi) is a highly efficient genetic tool to discover host genes involved in WNV infection at a genome scale. Here, we describe a protocol for conducting human genome wide RNAi screen to discover novel host factors associated with WNV infection of human cells.