Sandbox 20001

COVID-19

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Photo credit: Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS

Key Sites

• A summary of key findings about COVID-19 can be found at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• A page at PDB-101 on Viruses shows how atomic resolution structures have revealed both the inner workings of viruses and new avenues for the creation of drugs and vaccines to fight them.

Recent published papers

• A study by Zhou & colleagues in Science on the structural basis for the recognition of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) by full-length human ACE2 gives insights to the molecular basis for coronavirus recognition and infection^[1].

• A recent study by Gautret et al. (2020) showed, despite its small sample size (20 patients treated), that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin.^[2].

• Scientists are endeavoring to find antivirals specific to the virus. Several drugs such as chloroquine, arbidol, remdesivir, and favipiravir are currently undergoing clinical studies to test their efficacy and safety in the treatment of COVID-19 in China; the summary of some promising results are summarized.^[3].

Structural highlights