Figure 2.

Schematic diagram of the SARS-CoV-2 genome structure. SARS-CoV-2 is spherical in shape. The virus is wrapped in a lipid envelope that is coated with spike glycoprotein. The SARS-CoV-2 genomic organization is characteristic of betacoronaviruses. The full-length RNA genome is roughly 29,903 nucleotides long and contains a 5′UTR replicase complex (composed of ORF1a and ORF1b). ORF1a is responsible for encoding NSP1–NSP10, while ORF1b is responsible for encoding NSP1–NSP16. The structural proteins are encoded by four genes: the spike gene, envelope gene, membrane gene, and nucleocapsid gene, as well as a poly (A) tail at the 3′UTR. Between the structural genes are the accessory genes.