Once it is released into the cell cytoplasm, how does the virus replicate itself? In the cytoplasm, the nucleocapsid opens to uncoat the viral genome. This process releases the viral RNA into the cytoplasm. The viral RNA then hijacks the host cell's machinery to replicate itself. The virus uses ribosomes on the host's rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to translate the viral RNA and produce the viral polypeptide. This polypeptide is then cut to form the ten dengue proteins.