To generate WNV-primed CD8+ T cells, wild type or IRF-1-/- mice were infected with WNV, and on day 7, spleens were harvested and 2×105 NS4b tetramer+ CD8+ T cells were adoptively transferred into congenic five week-old wild type mice two days after WNV infection, and 4 days later (day 6 after infection), brains were harvested to evaluate the effect on control of WNV infection. This evidence concerns the gene IRF1 and infection.