Biomolecule Structure
B1: The biomolecules in the virus that make up glycoproteins + the structural components that they form. (See figure 1)
What are carbohydrates that make up glycans and proteins that make up the backbone of the glycoprotein?
B1: The functions of glycoproteins in rabies lyssavirus.
What are binding to host cell receptors, immune system evasion, and host cell uptake?
I1: The start and stop codons in this sequence of the rabies genome. (See figure 2)
AAC/ATC/CCT/CAA/AAG/ACT/CAA/GGA/AAG/ATG/GTT/CCT/.../GAG/GCT/GAA/ACC/TAC/ACT/AAC/TTC/GTT/GGT/TAT/GTC/ACA/ACC/ACG/TTC/AAA/AGA/AAG/CAT/TTC/CGC/CCA/ACA/CCA/GAT/GCA/TAG...
What are ATG(start) and TAG(stop)?
AAC/ATC/CCT/CAA/AAG/ACT/CAA/GGA/AAG/ATG/GTT/CCT/.../GAG/GCT/GAA/ACC/TAC/ACT/AAC/TTC/GTT/GGT/TAT/GTC/ACA/ACC/ACG/TTC/AAA/AGA/AAG/CAT/TTC/CGC/CCA/ACA/CCA/GAT/GCA/TAG...
C1: This group of organelles includes the lipid envelope/phospholipid bilayer, ribosomes, cytoplasm, and cytoskeleton. Their functions include (in order) selective permiability and providing structure, protein synthesis, organelle support/suspension, and cellular structure and organelle transport.
What are the host cell organelles and structures used to facilitate replication?
C3: This process occurs after the host body is given a weakened version of the rabies virus, and involves the creation of a virus-neutralizing antibodies that are able to prevent the virus from binding to host cell receptors. This process also creates an immune memory by stimulating the creation of memory B and T cells.
What is rabies lyssavirus vaccination?
B2: The primary biomolecule in the virus that makes up the phospholipid bilayer + the specific type of this molecule used. (See figure 1)
What are lipids? (specifically phospholipids)
B2: The functions of the phospholipid bilayer/lipid envelope in rabies lyssavirus.
What are selective transport across the membrane and providing structure to the cell?
I2: The process of turning the negative-sense RNA genome into five positive-sense mRNAs. This process allows the host cell to read the viral genome to begin using its ribosomes to create viral proteins. (the creation of proteins is not done in this step.)(See figure 3)
What is the role of transcription in the virus?
C1: This structure plays a vital role in host immune cell evasion for rabies lyssavirus, and prevents dendritic cells from detecting the virus in the body.
What are glycoproteins?
C3: This cell signaling molecule is responsible for activating antiviral interferon-stimulated genes once rabies lyssavirus enters the body.
What are type 1 interferons?
B3: The primary biomolecule in the virus that makes up glycoproteins, matrix proteins, nucleoproteins, phosphoproteins, and large proteins, also considered to be the most specific and diverse biomolecule. (See figure 1)
What are proteins?
B3: The functions of glycoproteins, nucleoproteins, and matrix proteins (separately) within the virus.
What are cell binding (G), encapsulation of the RNA genome (N), and providing intracellular structure (M)?
I3: The process host cell ribosomes turning turning viral mRNA into viral proteins. This process creates the matrix proteins, nucleoproteins, phosphoproteins, and the large protein. This process also creates the glycoprotein, although it is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum rather than the free-floating ribosomes. (See figure 3)
What is the role of translation in the virus?
C2: These structures, including hydrophilic heads, hydrophobic tails, and a combination of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid tails allow this membrane to maintain fluidity and selective permiability, along with providing space for glycoproteins to reside.
What are the structural components and functions of the phospholipid bilayer in rabies lyssavirus?
B3- Bonus: This group of biomolecules appears in five different structures of rabies lyssavirus, and is represented by the letters N, P, M, G, and L. They serve several functions in the virus, many of which relate to host cell immune system evasion and viral genome replication.
What are proteins?
B3: The primary biomolecule in the virus that comprises the RNA genome, and is responsible for the viruses ability to replicate. (See figure 1)
What are nucleic acids?
B3: The functions of phosphoproteins and the large RNA polymerase protein in the virus.
What is transcription of the viral genome from negative-strand to positive-strand RNA and replication of the genome?
I4: This process occurs in the cytoplasm of host cells and allows the virus to spread and infect new cells by creating copies of its positive-sense RNA. It also allows the virus to spread throughout the hosts body and make its way to the central nervous system. (See figure 3)
What is the process and role of replication for the virus?
C2: This cellular transport mechanism is used by rabies lyssavirus to enter host muscle and neuronal cells. It involves the use of active transport to envelop the virus in a vesicle and allow its entry into the cell.
What is clathrin-mediated endocytosis/ receptor mediated endocytosis?
I1- Bonus question: These are the first 5 amino acids that are coded for After the start codon in the viral genome. (See figures 2 and 4)
AAC/ATC/CCT/CAA/AAG/ACT/CAA/GGA/AAG/ATG/GTT/CCT/CAG/GCT/CTC/.../GAG/GCT/GAA/ACC/TAC/ACT/AAC/TTC/GTT/GGT/TAT/GTC/ACA/ACC/ACG/TTC/AAA/AGA/AAG/CAT/TTC/CGC/CCA/ACA/CCA/GAT/GCA/TAG...
What are Valine, Proline, Glutamine, Alanine, and Leucine?
Works Cited #1 (Columns 1-2)
An Introduction to Glycoproteins | the Scientist, www.the-scientist.com/an-introduction-to-glycoproteins-71221. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
“Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Rabies Virus.” Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Rabies Virus (But Were Afraid to Ask), 24 June 2015, research.jefferson.edu/content/dam/academic/research/researcher-labs/schnell-lab/schnell_paper_5.pdf.
“Rabies Virus Antigens.” Rabies Virus Antigens - Creative Diagnostics, www.creative-diagnostics.com/tag-rabies-virus-antigens-27.htm. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
You, Y. “Rabies Virus Glycoprotein: Structure, Function, and Antivirals.” Science Direct, Feb. 2026, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949928325000628.
B4: The functions of the RNA genome in the virus.
What are passing viral genetic code on to newly replicated rabies virus cells.
Works Cited #2
Albertini, A., Ruigrok R., Blondel, D. “Rabies Virus Transcription and Replication.” Advances in Virus Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21601039/. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
“Bulletin - Europe.” Rabies, www.who-rabies-bulletin.org/site-page/virus-structure. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
“Rabies Virus, Complete Genome - Nucleotide - NCBI.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/NC_001542.1?report=fasta&from=3291&to=4964. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Works Cited #3
Guo, Yidi. “Https://Www.Sciencedirect.Com/Science/Article/Abs/Pii/S1051200421000968 | Request PDF.” Early Events in Rabies Virus Infection—Attachment, Entry, and Intracellular Trafficking, Apr. 2019, www.researchgate.net/publication/351163114_httpswwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticleabspiiS1051200421000968.
Li, Chunfu, et al. “Deficient Incorporation of Rabies Virus Glycoprotein into Virions Enhances Virus-Induced Immune Evasion and Viral Pathogenicity.” Viruses, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 4 Mar. 2019, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6466124/.
“Rabies in Animals - Nervous System.” MSD Veterinary Manual, www.msdvetmanual.com/nervous-system/rabies/rabies-in-animals#Etiology_v3289315. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
“2.5: Phospholipid Bilayers.” Biology LibreTexts, Libretexts, 6 Mar. 2021, bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Introductory_Biology_(CK-12)/02%3A_Cell_Biology/2.05%3A_Phospholipid_Bilayers.
Works Cited #4
Overduin, Lisanne A, et al. “The Cellular Immune Response to Rabies Vaccination: A Systematic Review.” Vaccines, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 11 Sept. 2019, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6790004/#:~:text=The%20rabies%20vaccine%20is%20T%2Dcell%20dependent%20and,*%20Most%20immunogenic%20epitopes%20differ%20between%20individuals.
Tamang, Sanju, et al. “Codon Chart: Table, Amino Acids & RNA Wheel Explained.” Microbe Notes, 25 Dec. 2024, microbenotes.com/codon-chart-table-amino-acids/.
Zhang, Haili, et al. “Regulation of Innate Immune Responses by Rabies Virus.” Animal Models and Experimental Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2022, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9610147/#:~:text=The%20host%20can%20recognize%20the,and%20inflammasome%20pathways%20that%20are.