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Review
. 2022 Apr-Jun;40(2):182-186.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2022.02.005. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Basic virology of SARS-CoV 2

V Ravi  1 , Sonal Saxena  2 , Pragyan Swagatika Panda  3
Affiliations
Review

Basic virology of SARS-CoV 2

V Ravi et al. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2022 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a highly transmissible pathogenic coronavirus emerged in late 2019 causing a pandemic of acute respiratory disease, named 'coronavirus disease 2019' (COVID-19). It has spread fast all over the world posing an extraordinary threat to global public health. Along with SARS-CoV-2, there are seven human coronaviruses. Those causing mild diseases are the 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1, and the pathogenic ones are SARSCoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.

Objective: This review has highlighted the basic virology of SARS CoV-2 including its origin, structure, genomic characteristics, pathogenesis, immunological response and clinical manifestation along with the key difference of SARS CoV2 from the previous Coronaviruses.

Content: Coronaviruses are spherical and enveloped with club-shaped spikes on the surface. It has a large positive sense, single stranded RNA genome within the nucleocapsid with a helical symmetry. It has been known to cause infection to innumerable mammalian hosts, like humans, cats, bats, civets, dogs, and camels. The viral genome contains four major structural proteins: the spike (S), membrane (M), envelope (E) and the nucleocapsid (N) protein encoded within the 3' end of the genome. Virus binds to the host cell by the S protein with specific receptor. Following receptor binding, the virus enters host cell cytosol and there is fusion of the viral and cellular membranes followed by the translation of the viral genomic RNA. Following the viral replication and sub-genomic RNA synthesis, there is formation of the mature virus. The virions are then transported to the cell surface in vesicles and are released by exocytosis.

Keywords: COVID 19; SARS CoV-2; Virology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig: 1
Fig: 1
Classification of human coronaviruses.
FigQ5: Two versions of caption have been provided for Fig. [2,3]. Please confirm that we have used the correct one.. 2
Fig. 2
Genomic arrangement of SARS-CoV-2 showing sequential arrangement of various non-structural, structural and accessory genes [14].
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Viral Multiplication.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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