Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 12
Genome-Wide RNAi Screening to Identify
Human Host Factors Crucial for Influenza Virus
Replication
Katharina Ahrens and Alexander Karlas
Abstract
Influenza A virus has developed strategies to exploit and in some cases
subvert cellular proteins and pathways to promote its own replication and to sup-
press antiviral immune responses. Identification of these host factors would expand
the number of potential drug targets far beyond the 11 proteins encoded in the viral
genome. Recently, several laboratories have set out to provide an insight into the
interface between influenza virus and its host by performing genome-wide siRNA
silencing screens to characterize these host proteins and to monitor the effects on
viral infectivity. Initial hits from each study were used to search databases of pro-
tein-protein interactions, allowing prediction of host-cell pathways likely to be
involved either in the viral replicative cycle or in the immune response to viral infec-
tion. The results of these screens will promote our understanding of influenza virus
biology as well as identify potential targets for the rational design of broad-spec-
trum antiviral drugs such as siRNA and small molecules.
12.1
In fl uenza
12.1.1
Life Cycle and Disease
Influenza is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family
Orthomyxoviridae. Antigenic differences in virus nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix
proteins (M1) have led to a classification of influenza viruses into types A, B, or C;
K. Ahrens • A. Karlas (
*
)
Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology , Charitéplatz 1 , 10117 Berlin , Germany
e-mail: karlas@mpiib-berlin.mpg.de
Search WWH ::
Custom Search