The family Rhabdoviridae: mono- and bipartite negative-sense RNA viruses with diverse genome organization and common evolutionary origins

Virus Res. 2017 Jan 2:227:158-170. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2016.10.010. Epub 2016 Oct 20.

Abstract

The family Rhabdoviridae consists of mostly enveloped, bullet-shaped or bacilliform viruses with a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome that infect vertebrates, invertebrates or plants. This ecological diversity is reflected by the diversity and complexity of their genomes. Five canonical structural protein genes are conserved in all rhabdoviruses, but may be overprinted, overlapped or interspersed with several novel and diverse accessory genes. This review gives an overview of the characteristics and diversity of rhabdoviruses, their taxonomic classification, replication mechanism, properties of classical rhabdoviruses such as rabies virus and rhabdoviruses with complex genomes, rhabdoviruses infecting aquatic species, and plant rhabdoviruses with both mono- and bipartite genomes.

Keywords: Diversity; Genome organization; Negative-sense RNA virus; Replication; Rhabdovirus; Taxonomy.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Viruses / classification
  • Plant Viruses / physiology
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA Viruses / classification
  • RNA Viruses / physiology
  • RNA, Viral*
  • Rhabdoviridae / classification*
  • Rhabdoviridae / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Vertebrates
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • RNA, Viral