Master Rabies Virus with Picmonic for Medicine

This virus has an envelope covering its protein capsid.

Rabies virus has an RNA genome.

Negative-sense 3 to 5 viral RNA genome is complementary to viral mRNA. Therefore, the genome must be converted to positive-sense RNA by an RNA polymerase before translation can occur. Viruses with negative-sense genomes must carry an RNA polymerase inside the virion in order to replicate.

Rabies virus has helical symmetry with infectious particles that have a cylindrical shape.

The rabies virus has a characteristic bullet-shaped envelope.

Rabies virus attaches to the acetylcholine receptors of cells.

Retrograde transport is the movement of molecules or organelles away from the synapse of a neuron toward the cell body and is mediated by dynein. The rabies virus travels quickly along the peripheral nervous system via retrograde axonal transport to the CNS.

From the CNS, the rabies virus travels to other organs including the salivary glands. These tissues in the mouth and cheeks receive high concentrations of the virus allowing it to be further transmitted in saliva. Therefore, rabies virus is normally transmitted via a bite from an infected host.

Neurons infected by the rabies virus can be identified via visualization of Negri bodies, which are eosinophilic inclusion bodies found in the cytoplasm of neurons that represent ribonuclear proteins produced by the virus.

Neurons infected by the rabies virus can be identified via visualization of Negri bodies, which are eosinophilic inclusion bodies found in the cytoplasm of neurons that represent ribonuclear proteins produced by the virus.

Negri bodies are often found in purkinje cells of the cerebellum and can be used as definite histological proof of rabies infection.