Host Factors Modulating RSV Infection: Use of Small Interfering RNAs to Probe Functional Importance

Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and the elderly worldwide [1], the protein-protein interactions between the host cell and virus remain poorly understood. We have used a focused small interfering RNA (siRNA) approach to knock-down and examine the role(s) of various host cell proteins. Here, we describe approaches for casein kinase 2α (CK2α) as a key example. We show how to study the effect of host gene (CK2α) knockdown using siRNA on cell-associated and released virus titers, using both quantitative RT-PCR, which measures the level of viral RNA, and plaque assay, which measures infectious virus directly. Both assays identified reduced viral titers with CK2α gene knock-down, indicating that it is likely required for efficient viral assembly and/or release. Effects were confirmed in RSV infected cells using the specific CK2α inhibitor 4,5,6,7-tetrabromobenzotriazole, revealing a similar reduction in viral titers as CK2α specific siRNA. This demonstrates that siRNA can be used to characterize critical host cell-RSV protein-protein interactions, and establishes CK2α as a future druggable target.