Published on Sep 1, 2021
Medicine
102. COVID Bits
- Coronavirus is an enveloped virus with helically symmetrical capsid with unsegmented ss (+) RNA genome.
- The recent pandemic is caused by SARS CoV-2 (Severe Acute respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus-2) and the disease it causes is called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (abbreviated COVID-19).
- The receptor used by SARS CoV-2 to gain entry into cells is the ACE-2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2) receptor.
- The infectious nature and host specificity of SARS CoV-2 is the spike protein.
- Modes of transmission of SARS CoV-2 are droplet transmission, fomite transmission and airborne droplet nuclei transmission.