[Progression in studies on pathogenesis of rabies virus]

Rabies virus causes lethal neurological symptoms in humans and animals. Rabies epidemics have continued to occur throughout the world, despite the fact that rabies can be effectively prevented by vaccination. The development of inexpensive and safe attenuated live vaccines and the establishment of cures are the keys to control rabies. To achieve these objectives, it is important to elucidate mechanism by which rabies virus causes disease. Here, previous studies on the pathogenesis of rabies virus are reviewed and ways to apply previous findings to rabies control are also discussed.