A virologist is studying a newly isolated enveloped RNA virus. She finds that the virus replicates entirely in the cytoplasm, has a negative-sense single-stranded RNA genome, and uses its own RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) packaged within the virion for transcription. This description is most consistent with:

• A Poliovirus
• B Influenza virus
• C Rabies virus ✓
• D Hepatitis C virus

Explanation

Rabies virus (family Rhabdoviridae) has a negative-sense single-stranded RNA genome and must carry its own RdRp to transcribe the genome into mRNA in the cytoplasm, as host ribosomes cannot directly translate negative-sense RNA. Poliovirus and Hepatitis C are positive-sense RNA viruses that do not require a pre-packaged polymerase. Influenza is also negative-sense but replicates in the nucleus (not purely cytoplasmic) and belongs to Orthomyxoviridae.

Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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