Structure of Rabies Virus

Abstract

Rabies virus possesses an unsegmented negative strand RNA genome. From a systematic point of view, all viruses presenting this particular genomic structure are grouped in 2 viral families, the Paramyxoviridae and the Rhabdoviridae (1). The host range of the Rhabdoviridae is surprisingly wide, extending from insects, with the sigma virus of Drosophila, to fishes and mammals (1). It is divided into 2 main genera, Vesiculovirus and Lyssavirus. The genus Vesiculovirus is comprised essentially of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and its subtypes, and related viruses such as Chandipura and Piry. VSV is by far the best studied unsegmented negative strand RNA virus and has provided the basis for the majority of data accumulated concerning the viral architecture, mode of replication, and structural and functional studies (for a review see ref. 2). VSV is therefore a model for this group of viruses and will be referred to frequently in this chapter.