Dr. Dharmesh R. Patel 1, Dr. Khushbu S. Rana 2 and Dr. I. H. Kalyani 3
Abstract
Rabies remains one of the most lethal zoonotic neurotropic diseases affecting warm-blooded animals and humans, causing an estimated 59,000 human deaths annually despite being completely preventable. Caused by neurotropic single-stranded negative-sense RNA viruses of the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviruses, the Rabies Virus (RABV) displays an unprecedented ability to evade host innate immune responses and selectively invade the central nervous system (CNS). This technical review evaluates the molecular architecture and life cycle of RABV, retrograde axonal transport dynamics, host-pathogen interactions, and neuroinvasive pathophysiology. Furthermore, it discusses state-of-the-art diagnostic platforms, modern Cell Culture and Embryonated Egg Vaccines (CCEEVs), recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktails, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) protocols. Finally, we highlight systemic control strategies under the global "One Health" framework—specifically mass dog vaccination, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) in wildlife reservoirs—and outline future horizons including mRNA-based rabies vaccines, novel pan-lyssavirus therapeutic antibodies, and gene-editing platforms targeting viral replication.
