Replication Strategy of ss(-)RNA Viruses
virion RDRP makes mRNA translation of viral proteins - including RDRP RDRP synthesises (+)RNA RDRP synthesises (+)RNA (+)RNA used as template for (-) genomic RNA more mRNA made interaction of proteins with replicative complex, assembly

Note: look at status bar when mouse is over numbers in picture for explanations of steps

Note: this is an animated GIF, which takes about 30 sec to cycle through completely.

 

Steps in Replication

1. Primary transcription of virion (-)sense RNA by RDRP in virion core in cytoplasm, production (mainly) mRNA and (+)sense RNA, formation replicative complex (RC)

2. Translation mRNAs, accumulation of products

3. Virion proteins interact with RC, bias it towards production of full-length (+)sense RNA and therefore of genomic (-)sense RNA

4. Secondary transcription from progeny (-)sense RNA, translation, accumulation structural proteins

5. Nucleocapsid assembly and maturation, budding of nucleocapsid through host membrane containing viral envelope proteins

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copyright Ed Rybicki, 1995 and September 1998