The dengue virus genome is a single strand of RNA.

The genome is translated as a single, long

polypeptide and then cut into ten proteins. The dengue virus is a tiny structure that can only replicate
inside a host organism. The four closely related dengue viruses DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4
are found in the same regions of the world. For DENV, the ability of the vRNA to cyclize is implicated in
the step of viral RNA synthesis. The dengue virus is a roughly spherical structure composed of the viral
genome and capsid proteins surrounded by an envelope and a shell of proteins. After infecting a host
cell, the dengue virus hijacks the host cell's machinery to replicate the viral RNA genome and viral
proteins. After maturing, the newly synthesized dengue viruses are released and go on to infect other
host cells.

Interestingly, the VR of DENV2, just downstream of the stop codon, was shown to enhance replication in
mammalian cells but had no effect on replication in insect cells. The VR is so named for its lack of
conservation in both length and sequence even among isolates within the same DENV serotype.
Maintenance of this region among DENV strains implies that the VR serves a purpose in the viral life
cycle; thus, the role of the VR merits further study.

Beasley, D. W. C. & Barrett, A. D. T. "The Infectious Agent." In Dengue: Tropical Medicine: Science and
Practice, vol. 5, eds. G. Pasvol & S. L. Hoffman (London: Imperial College Press, 2008): 29–74