VIRUS ANIMATIONS: COVID (Coronavirus) SARS2

COVID Virus Particles (Cov)

Coronavirus particles on a roiling, organic background. The virion (virus particle) of SARS-Cov-2 has a characteristic faceting and a  corona of spikes. The spikes are trimers (three identical proteins wound together) that allow the virus to attach to a cell surface. Once it enters the cell, its RNA is released and directs the production of new virus particles. This novel coronavirus is the cause of the pandemic COVID-19.

Coronavirus Replication

A SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus particle (COVID virus) lands on a cell surface and bonds with ACE2 receptors (purple, tree-like knobs on the greenish host-cell membrane). The virus particle is engulfed by the cell in a process called endocytosis. The viral RNA (yellow string) is spewed into the cell, where it will direct the production of new virus particles.