Industry Focus

The epidemic of the new crown virus has made the world unable to live in peace for nearly three years. Its name is derived from the Latin corona, meaning crown. The term coronavirus was first used in 1968 because of the spike-like spike protein on the surface.

This is what it really looks like. The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is about 80 nanometers in diameter and contains the virus's RNA, the genetic code, with a protective spike protein on the outside. Like SARS and MERS, it belongs to the coronavirus.

The spike protein of the new coronavirus binds to proteins on the surface of the host cell (green in the picture), causing chemical changes that allow the RNA of the virus to enter the cell and force the cell to replicate its RNA. Just one cell can replicate tens of thousands of new viral particles (purple), which further invade other cells in the body.

In 2012, researchers discovered a new coronavirus, MERS-CoV (yellow). Infected people develop flu-like symptoms that came to be known as "Middle East respiratory syndrome". MERS virus is less contagious than the new coronavirus, and it is more spread among family members and hospitalized patients.

The SARS virus was the first human contact with the coronavirus this century, and in March 2003 WHO issued an epidemiological warning for atypical pneumonia (SARS). SARS spread to about 30 countries, and in July 2003, WHO declared the spread of the disease under control. HIV (yellow) attacks the T cells of the immune system (blue). Like the new coronavirus, it is also a virus that spreads based on ribonucleic acid. Without treatment, the virus weakens the immune system until it is unable to fight off any infection. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids such as semen and blood. There is no vaccine for this virus, but there are drugs that can reduce the amount of virus in the body, thereby preventing infected people from getting sick.