“…Its replication is slow, taking 12 to 16 h after infection before viral structural proteins can be detected intracellularly (Hemphill et al, 1988), and without the shutoffof host protein synthesis exhibited by alphaviruses. In addition, although some authors have observed RV budding at the plasma membrane, particularly in BHK cells (Chatterji et al, 1969;Higashi, 1973;Murphy et al, 1968;Oshiro et al, 1969), most others (even using the same cell line) have failed to see budding at the plasma membrane of the host cell, finding it rather at internal membranes, possibly of Golgi origin (Bardeletti et al, 1979;Bonissol & Sisman, 1968;Hamvas et al, 1969;Higashi, 1973;Kouri et al, 1974;McCombs et al, 1968 ;Tuchinda et al, 1966;von Bonsdorff & Vaheri, 1969). The lipid composition of the virus (Bardeletti & Gautheron, 1976) lies midway between that of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and that of the plasma membrane (van Meer, 1989), particularly with regard to the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio, again suggesting that the virus buds from an intracellular compartment.…”