Abstract
The alphaviruses are enveloped animal viruses that belong to the family of Toga viruses. The molecular biology of this virus group is almost entirely based on studies with two members of this virus group, the Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) and the Sindbis virus. Like all other viruses the alphaviruses are completely dependent on their host cell for their replication. The virus particles themselves can be regarded simply as a piece of nucleic acid, which represents their genome, wrapped in a protective coat. In the case of the alphaviruses this coat is represented by the nucleocapsid structure and the surrounding membrane or envelope. The virus coat must, in addition to its protective function, also provide the means whereby the virus particle can get into the host cell and release its genome into the cell cytoplasm to start virus infection. This function is carried out by the virus-coded glycoproteins that form the spike-like projections on the surface of the virions.
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