Molecular Insights into The Mechanisms of Rabies Virus Neuroinvasion And Pathogenicity: A Review Article

Abstract

Rabies is a major global health problem that kills approximately 59,000 people each year, mostly in developing regions. The rabies virus (Rabies lyssavirus) is a unique neurotropic virus that can invade the nervous system, escape host immune responses and produce a truly devastating nervous system disease. The molecular insights into rabies virus neuroinvasion and pathogenicity, reviewed in this paper, are described in a comprehensive overview. Structural and genomic characteristics of the virus, neuroinvasion mechanisms, and pathologic effects on the host are discussed. Additionally, we discuss the viral strategies they use to evade the host’s immune responses. We then review the challenges to current therapeutic approaches, including post exposure prophylaxis and vaccination. We conclude with suggestions of future research directed towards development of better prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies for rabies.