Virology Information Polio Polio is a picornavirus . 7500nt in length. The genome encodes 11 polypeptides. These are broken into left, middle and right. There are 4 structural proteins and 7 non-structural.
Replication takes place in the cytoplasm.
Virus encodes its own replicase. A cleft or canyon is formed where the host cell receptor plugs in. VP2 and VP3 contribute to this process. Penetration - Receptor mediated endocytosis. Because polio is a naked virus, VP4 gets rid of the capsid and punches a hole in the endosomal membrane.