VSV (Vesicular stomatitis virus) is a single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus. The virus has a bullet-shaped envelope and its genome encodes five main proteins: nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), glycoprotein (G), and RNA polymerase (L). VSV primarily localizes in the cytoplasm of host cells, entering cells via membrane fusion mediated by its glycoprotein. It participates in inducing host immune responses and affects signaling pathways such as the interferon response. Mutations are common, particularly in the glycoprotein, affecting its transmission and host range.