(a) West Nile virus genome including the 5′ and 3′ UTR (untranslated region), the 5′ cap, the structural (C, capsid, PrM, premembrane, and E, envelope) and nonstructural (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5) genes. (b) Schematic representation of the WNV protease expression construct (WNV NS2B-NS3pro) which includes the central hydrophilic domain of NS2B (cofactor) and the N-terminal protease domain of NS3.