Systematic Veterinary Virology

MORPHOLOGY

• Rabies virus is approximately 180 nm long and 75 nm wide and is bullet shaped. It is an enveloped virus and hence is ether sensitive. The nucleic acid is single stranded and negative sense RNA. The genome encodes 5 proteins designated as N, P, M, G, and L.
• The RNA is arranged as ribonucleoprotein core (RNP) along with nuceleoprotein (N), polymerase (L) and phosphoprotein (P). Inside the core the RNA is tightly encased by the nucleoprotein. The surface proteins are matrix protein (M) and glycoprotein (G). 
• The glycoprotein forms approximately 400 trimeric spikes, which are tightly arranged on the surface of the virus.  The M protein is associated both with the envelope and the RNP.