Journal Press India^®

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Virus are made of a strip of ribonucleic acid (RNA) inside a spherical protein capsule which has projected spikes. Those crown shaped spikes (prongs) sense, recognize and stick to ACE2 protein, which is found on the outer surface of human cells. This is its first step towards an infection in the host cell. The contours of SARS-CoV-2 are remarkably complementary to shape of ACE2 protein. The spikes of Coronavirus family consist of two connected halves. The virus can penetrate a host cell if the spikes activate. The spikes activate when two halves are separated. The ease with which separation of halves occur is crucial in coronavirus infection. In SARS-classic, this separation happens with rather greater difficulty. But in SARS-CoV-2, the separation of halves and thus activation of spikes is much easier due to presence of an enzyme available in human tissues. The bridge that connects the two halves of SARS-CoV-2 virus, can be easily eaten by an enzyme called furin, which is made by human cells and incidentally is found across many tissues. Reactivity with furin is probably reason for many of the really unusual behavior seen in this virus. Starting symptom in Wuhan appear to be sore throat and a dry cough. The virus then crawls downward the bronchial tubes and reach to lungs. In mild viral loading, the immune system fights back and attacks the virus resulting into inflammation and fever. But in case of excess loading, the immune system goes berserk, causing more damage to itself than the actual virus. The virus seems quite stable as it is found that there are only 4 to 10 genetic differences between the strains circulating in the US and the original virus that was isolated from Wuhan patients. This suggests that if an effective vaccine is found it should continue to work for some time. Several candidate vaccines based on traditional technology involving a weakened virus are proposed and same are on trial already. Besides, few companies are working on vaccines based upon newer technologies as well involving protiens and mRNA.

Keywords

Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; Covid -19; Pandemic; ACE2 Protein; Furin; Crown

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