SARS-CoV-2 is comprised of four main structural components: the spike glycoprotein (S), the small envelope glycoprotein (E), the membrane glycoprotein (M), and the nucleocapsid protein (N). There are also several accesory proteins. 

Structure of SARS-CoV-2

- Manipulation of Innate Immune and Pro-inflammatory Response

Methods of Host Cell Infection and Exploitation

A study found that SARS-CoV-2 can be highly sensitive to heat. The virus was still detectable after being left out for 14 days in a 4°C room, while the virus inactive 5 minutes after being left in a 70°C. The study also found a difference in stability on different surfaces, such as paper, plastic, and metal.  At room temperature, the virus is highly stable in a range of pH3 - pH10. However, the standard disinfectant method was still able to affect the virus, with the researchers finding no active infection in different disinfectants after an incubation of 5 minutes (except for hand soap).

Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions

Investigations are still ongoing in determining the current evolution and mutating nature of SARS-CoV-2, which will aid scientists in understanding more about this virus and in developing effective treatments and vaccines against the disease. 

Evolution and Mutations of SARS-CoV-2

- Application of Rhesus Macaques for Studying SARS-CoV-2 Virology
- Application of Syrian Hamsters for Studying SARS-CoV-2 Virology
- Application of Mosquitoes for Studying SARS-CoV-2 Virology
- Application of African Green Monkeys for Studying SARS-CoV-2 Virology

Animal Studies on SARS-CoV-2 Virology

So far, vaccines consist of either inactivated or weakened versions of antigens or virions. Many pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna are developing inactivated antigens in the form of mRNA, DNA, and proteins from the viral envelope or capsid that are often fragmented. 

Vaccine Candidates, Immunogenicity, and Adaptive Immunity

Until vaccine has passed all preclinical and clinical trials as well as FDA approval, the best approach to containing the pathogenicity and infectivity of COVID-19 will involve testing. The Safra center at Harvard advised to have up to 5 million tests being conducted within a day. Testing will not only slow down the spread, but also allow reopening of businesses and schools. So far, many testing methods involve viral RNAs or antigens. For detecting viral RNAs, most involve using RT-qPCR conjugated with Next Generation Sequencing to identify specific unique viral sequences. Recently, SHERLOCK detection technique utilizing CRISPR-Cas13 was tested in Broad Institute using a catalytically dead Cas13 to bind to specific viral sequences. On the other hand, detection of viral antigens involve either using ELISA with selected antibodies against viral antigens or using lateral flow assay.

Antigen Detection

Until August 28, 2020, there has been several cases of reinfections around the world (Hong Kong, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the US). 

Reinfection of SARS-CoV-2

The coronaviruses belong to the broad viral order Nidovirales within the family, Coronaviridae, notoriously known to be infecting mammals and humans in the recent years. In general, they can be commonly distinguished by their unique morphological structures of spherical or disk-like envelopes embedded with glycoproteins (Burrell et al., 2017). In terms of its genetic composition, it has a large positive sense RNA (33.5 kb) belonging to Group VI in the Baltimore classification. Other shared similarities include highly conserved genomes, Replicase gene upstream of structural and accessory genes as well as the translation of many nonstructural mRNAs from ribosomal frameshift. These viruses are very diverse and can be further subdivided into 4 subfamilies: alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma-coronaviruses based on serology (Fehr et al., 2015). 

Coronaviruses Classification

- Animal Studies on SARS-CoV-2 Virology
- Antigen Detection
- Classification
- Evolution and Mutations
- Methods of Host Cell Infection and Exploitation
- Stability in different environmental conditions
- Structure
- Vaccine Candidates, Immunogenicity, and Adaptive Immunity
- Reinfection

Smith College

University of California, Davis

Duke University

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The virology of COVID-19: How viruses infect host cells in the body

Virology of COVID-19

Focuses of Virology of COVID-19

Image of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

- bioRxiv
- Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
- ChemRxiv
- Mayo Clinic
- PNAS
- STAT
- CSH


References for virology of COVID-19 by organization

- Apoptosis
- BioRxiv
- BMC
- Cell
- Cell Host & Microbe
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- ClinicalKey
- Current Biology
- Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews
- Elsevier
- Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Eurosurveillance Journal
- Frontiers in Immunology
- Frontiers in Microbiology
- Genomics-Elsevier
- Genomics & Informatics
- JAMA Cardiology
- JAMA Network
- Journal of Immunology
- Journal of Molecular Biology
- Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics in Infectious Diseases
- Journal of Medical Virology
- Journal of Nutrition
- Journal of Translational Medicine
- Journal of Virology-American Society for Microbiology
- PROTEINS: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics
- Nature
- The CRISPR Journal
- The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
- The Lancet
- medRxiv
- New Microbes and New Infections
- NIH
- Science
- Science China Life Sciences
- Science Direct
- US National Library of Medicine 
- Virology
- Virologica Sinica
- MedicalXpress
- Viruses
- Zoological Research

References for virology of COVID-19 by journal

COVID-19 Attack + Immune System Defense Visual

Reference Genome of SARS-cOV-2

The virus has: 

- A diameter ranging from 60 to 140 nm
- An envelope with protein spikes
- A single-stranded positive sense RNA genome (that is ∼30,000 nucleotides in length) which encodes 27 proteins including an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). RdRP acts in conjunction with nonstructural proteins to maintain genome fidelity.
- Four structural proteins: spike surface glycoprotein (S), small envelope protein (E), matrix protein (M), and nucleocapsid protein (N). *The S gene codes for the receptor-binding spike protein that enables the virus to infect cells. This spike
protein mediates receptor binding and membrane fusion, which determines host tropism and transmission capabilities.


Learn Before

Related

Learn After