VIRION
Filamentous, maybe enveloped. the ribonucleocapsid has a diameter of 20nm, and is 300-400 nm long.
GENOME
Negative-stranded RNA linear genome, about 10 kb in size. Encodes for six proteins. Enzyme:RNA dependent RNA polymerase, RNA guanylyl transferase, mRNA methyltransferase.
GENE EXPRESSION
The viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase binds the encapsidated genome at the leader region, then sequentially transcribes each genes by recognizing start and stop signals flanking viral genes.
ENZYMES
- RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [L]
- Mononega-type capping
- RNA TPase, GTase, N7 Mtase, 2'O Mtase [L]
REPLICATION
Cytoplasmic
- Virus entry into host cell
- Sequential transcription.
- Replication presumably starts when enough nucleoprotein is present to encapsidate neo-synthetized antigenomes and genomes.
- Budding of virion or transmission through Fungal intercellular connetions