Half COVID-19 Virus (SARS-CoV-2)

What Is the COVID-19 Virus? 

COVID-19 is one of the coronaviruses, a family of viruses that cause respiratory illness and other symptoms. COVID-19 is spherical or ellipsoid in shape, measuring 60-140 nanometers or 1/1000 the width of human hair. The outer surface is covered with characteristic spike (S) proteins, which project outward and give the virus its crown-like (corona) appearance, a defining feature of coronaviruses. These spike proteins are crucial in the virus's ability to bind and enter host cells. The electron-dense core of the virus contains the viral RNA genome encapsulated by the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which provides structural integrity. The viral envelope, derived from the host cell membrane, also contains membrane (M) and envelope (E) proteins, which are essential for viral assembly and budding. 

Coronavirus is a type of RNA virus, with the genetic material tightly packed at the molecule's center rather than on long strands of DNA. Other common RNA viruses include the flu, the common cold, and HIV. 

How Does COVID-19 Infect the Body? 

SARS-CoV-2 enters human cells through a multistep process. First, the S spike proteins bind to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on cells more commonly found in the nasal passageways, lungs, heart, and kidney. After binding to the cells, a series of reactions occur, allowing it to fuse with the cell membrane and the virus to release its genetic material inside the healthy cell cytoplasm. The viral RNA then tricks the cell's manufacturing processes to make more viral proteins, which assemble into complete viruses that are then released from the cell and infect the neighboring cells rapidly, thus repeating the process.