Virus Explorer

This diagram shows how the rabies virus replicates, or makes copies of itself. Glycoproteins on the surface of rabies virus bind to specific receptors on the host cell’s surface (A). This triggers a process known as endocytosis (B), which brings the virus into the cell in an enclosed structure (vesicle) called an endosome. Acidic substances build up inside the endosome, lowering the pH and triggering the endosome’s membrane to fuse with the virus’s envelope. This releases the virus’s (–)RNA genome and viral polymerase into the cell’s cytosol (C).

In early stages of infection, the virus focuses on making proteins. The virus’s (–)RNA genome is transcribed into mRNA (F), which is translated into viral proteins by ribosomes in the cytosol and on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (G). Rabies virus glycoproteins are further modified through protein processing in the ER-Golgi network (H), then are transported to the cell membrane.

In later stages of infection, the virus focuses on copying its genome. The viral polymerase transcribes the virus’s (–)RNA genome into a complementary (+)RNA template (D). This template is used to make copies of the virus’s whole (–)RNA genome (E).

Viral genomes and proteins are assembled into new viruses (I), which leave the cell through a process known as budding (J). This process surrounds the virus in a piece of the cell membrane containing viral proteins, which becomes the virus’s envelope.