Viral Characteristics

The enveloped virus known as Rabies is a Lyssavirus from the family of pathogens known as the Rhabdoviridae. To enter and invade a host cell, it must bind prior to being absorbed by the organism. This step is mediated by a 7 trans-membrane G proteins of the host. Rabies is a negative sense single stranded RNA virus (-SS RNA). It must initially convert its –SS RNA to mRNA before it can translate its genome to the proteins it codes using host cell machinery. Structurally the viral capsid is rod shaped and the genome codes for 5 specific proteins.

These five proteins include:

Nucleoprotein (N) which forms the viral capsid and encases the genome
Phosphoprotein (P) functions for transcription and translation of the viral component. It is closely associated to the nucleoprotein
Polymerase (L) is equally associated to the nucleoprotein and functions as the viruses’ RNA polymerase
Matrix protein (M) is crucial to maintaining the rod shaped of the virus as it covers the nucleoprotein. The M protein also takes part in assembling the viral components and in the exit of the host cell via budding

Glycoprotein (G). This viral protein is on the surface of the envelope (host origin) and mediates attachment to host cells to facilitate viral invasion by pinocytosis

The virus is spread worldwide and can infect a wide variety of mammalian hosts. Its virulence is exemplified by the fact its only location that this pathogen has yet to be isolated is Antarctica.