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. 2020;99(1):37.
doi: 10.1007/s12041-020-01205-x.

SARS-CoV-2: the emergence of a viral pathogen causing havoc on human existence

Ashish Prasad  1 , Manoj Prasad
Affiliations

SARS-CoV-2: the emergence of a viral pathogen causing havoc on human existence

Ashish Prasad et al. J Genet. 2020.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 was first reported from Wuhan district of China and has spread to 210 countries across the world claiming over 97,602 human lives as on 10 April 2020 by 21:06 pm. Currently, there is no specific treatment for this virus and the treatment is mainly relied on controlling symptoms. Here we discuss our current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 with respect to its receptor recognition and how this knowledge could be useful in treatment using clinically known inhibitory drugs. We have also discussed the diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures that are currently being employed for controlling further spread of the virus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses are enveloped positive sense RNA viruses. The structural proteins of the virus are: S-glycoprotein, envelope protein, membrane protein and nucleoprotein. The nucleocapsid is helical and is surrounded by a spherical envelope.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses bind to receptors on the host membrane for entry. Viral RNA is released following entry, which is directly translated to replicase protein. This protein assists in viral replication. The antigenome is transcribed to produce viral transcripts which are translated into viral proteins. Viral assembly is followed by release of new virions to infect new cells.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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