Rabies virus. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of the bullet-shaped rabies virus, a member of the Rhabdoviridae family. The virus has a protein coat or capsid (yellow), which is made up of helically arranged subunits called capsomeres. Within the coat is the genetic material, which in this virus is single-stranded RNA. The rabies virus is transmitted to man from an infected dog bite. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 10 days to a year and include fever, breathing difficulties, muscle spasms, and hydrophobia. Magnification: x150,000 when printed 10 centimetres high.