Cryo-electron Microscopy in the Fight Against COVID-19-mechanism of Virus Entry

Overview

Journal Front Mol Biosci

Specialty Biology

Date 2023 Oct 23

PMID 37867557

Authors

Satish Bodakuntla

Christopher Cyrus Kuhn

Christian Biertumpfel

Naoko Mizuno

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and electron tomography (cryo-ET) have become a critical tool for studying viral particles. Cryo-EM has enhanced our understanding of viral assembly and replication processes at a molecular resolution. Meanwhile, cryo-ET has been used to investigate how viruses attach to and invade host cells. These advances have significantly contributed to our knowledge of viral biology. Particularly, prompt elucidations of structures of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its variants have directly impacted the development of vaccines and therapeutic measures. This review discusses the progress made by cryo-EM based technologies in comprehending the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2), the virus responsible for the devastating global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with focus on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the mechanisms of the virus entry and replication.

Citing Articles

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