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Virologie. Volume 9, Number 2, 83-92, Mars-Avril 2005, revue

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Author(s) : AAV Albertini, G Schoehn, RWH Ruigrok

Summary : Non-segmented negative strand RNA viruses have an RNA genome that is in the opposite sense of that of messenger RNA. The viral RNA forms a tight helical complex with the viral nucleoprotein. The viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase binds to this helical complex with the help of a cofactor, the phosphoprotein and is only active on this RNA-protein complex and not on naked RNA. In this review we will describe the molecular and structural characteristics of all these molecules and the interactions between the various components. Detailed structural knowledge of this viral replication system will be necessary for the directed development of antiviral drugs.

Keywords : negative strand RNA viruses, replication, nucleocapsid, antiviral drug, rabies virus, measles virus