The application of reverse genetics technology in the study of rabies virus (RV) pathogenesis and for the development of novel RV vaccines.

Rabies is a central nervous system (CNS) disease that is almost invariably fatal. Neurotropism, neuroinvasiveness, and transsynaptic spread are the main features that determine the pathogenesis of rabies. Recent advances in rabies virus (RV) research, which made direct genetic manipulations of the RV genome possible, greatly improved the understanding of the role of different viral and host cell factors in the pathogenesis of rabies. Here the authors discuss molecular mechanisms associated with rabies RV infection and its spread to the CNS.