Interferon inhibits a model RNA virus via a limited set of inducible effector genes [GW_CRISPR_Screen]
Host cells produce interferon (IFN) in response to viral infections. Secreted interferon results in the transcription and production of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). A genome-wide CRISPR screen using IFN beta-treated U-2 OS cells was performed to determine which ISGs were required in order for host cells to suppress Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) infection. Overall design: Human U-2 OS cells were transduced with a human genome-wide CRISPR knockout (Brunello) library, selected for transduced cells, treated with IFNß, infected with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus encoding a GFP reporter, and GFP-positive cells that became infected despite IFNß suppression were collected by FACS. The screen was performed as 2 independent biological replicates at approximately 417x and 460x library coverage.