Description
In late 2019 a novel infectious disease was discovered in Wuhan, China which was quickly recognized to be caused by a previously unknown RNA coronavirus. The virus was very rapidly isolated, the full RNA sequence determined and put on-line on the 10th of January 2020. The sequence revealed that the virus was most closely related to certain bat coronaviruses and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. Immediately biotechnology companies and research institutes used the RNA sequence information to generate vaccine candidates. The SARS virus was known to enter and infect human cells by means of the so-called spike or S-protein which binds to the extracellular domain of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein, which is then internalized bringing the virus into the cell. Cryoelectron microscopy and binding studies quickly determined that the S-protein of SARS-CoV2 is structurally similar to to that of the SARS virus and also binds to the ACE2 receptor, albeit with higher affinity than the S-protein of SARS.


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For research use only. Not for diagnostic or clinical use.