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Review
. 2020 Jun;245(11):964-969.
doi: 10.1177/1535370220920540. Epub 2020 Apr 19.

Novel 2019 coronavirus: Genome structure, clinical trials, and outstanding questions

Affiliations
Review

Novel 2019 coronavirus: Genome structure, clinical trials, and outstanding questions

Manasi P Jogalekar et al. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Early availability of the sequence, the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), has prompted efforts towards identifying a safe and effective vaccine in the current public health emergency. To that end, understanding the pathophysiology of disease is crucial for scientists around the world. Since conventional vaccine development and manufacturing may take several years, it is important to think about alternative strategies that we could use to mitigate imminent catastrophe. We hope that this article will open up new avenues and provide insights that could potentially save hundreds of lives affected by COVID-19.

Keywords: 2019-nCoV; COVID-19; China; MERS-CoV; SARS-CoV; SARS-CoV-2; Wuhan; coronavirus.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Genomic organization of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 genome consists of ∼30 Kb RNA strand. It is organized as follows: 5ʹ end, Papain like protease, 3C‑like serine protease (3CL-protease; PDB ID: 6Y2E), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, Helicase, Endoribonuclease (PDB ID: 6VWW), Spike protein (PDB ID: 6VSB) containing receptor-binding domain (RBD; PDB ID: 6VW1) which binds to a human receptor—angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), envelope protein (E), membrane protein (M), and nucleocapsid protein (N), 3ʹ end. Enzymes are essential for viral replication and spike protein is needed for host cell entry. *Created with BioRender. (A color version of this figure is available in the online journal.)

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