Figure 2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): receptor binding, entry into host cell, replication, and transport to other tissues

(1) SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells through angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) receptors, as well as extracellular vimentin. The S1 subunit permits receptor binding and S2 facilitates entry and fusion. (2–4) Once inside the host cell, viral replication occurs. (5–8) SARS-CoV-2 buds in the endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) or Golgi apparatus and exits the cell via a biosynthetic secretory pathway. SARS-CoV-2 can also hide in extracellular vesicles (EVs) and reattack various tissues and organs through the circulatory system. Figure created with BioRender (https://biorender.com/).