## Rabies Virus Structure and Genome Organization ### Genome Characteristics **Key Point:** Rabies virus genome is a single, continuous negative-sense RNA molecule (not segmented), approximately 11.9 kilobases in length. This is a defining feature of the genus *Lyssavirus* within the *Rhabdoviridae* family. ### Virion Architecture **High-Yield:** The rabies virion is a bullet-shaped or bacilliform particle with: - A lipid bilayer envelope derived from the host plasma membrane - Spike glycoproteins (G protein) arranged as trimeric projections on the surface - A ribonucleoprotein core containing the negative-sense RNA genome - Matrix proteins (M protein) beneath the envelope ### Why Segmentation is Incorrect **Clinical Pearl:** The non-segmented, monopartite genome is critical for rabies pathogenesis—the entire genetic information is packaged as a single RNA strand. Segmented genomes are found in viruses like influenza (8 segments) and rotavirus (11 segments), but NOT in rabies. ### Genome Organization The 11.9 kb RNA encodes five essential proteins in order: 1. Nucleoprotein (N) 2. Phosphoprotein (P) 3. Matrix protein (M) 4. Glycoprotein (G) — major antigen and neutralization target 5. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L) **Mnemonic:** **N-P-M-G-L** — the five structural and functional proteins of rabies, arranged 5' to 3' on the genome [cite:Robbins 10e Ch 8].
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