Figure 2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mechanism of cell entry. Host cell entry is caused by the binding of the spike S glycoprotein found on the viral cell surface to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a protease on the host cell surface. This entry process is assisted by priming of the S protein by the host cell transmembrane serine protease 2. After S protein binding, the virus is internalized, uncoated and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome is released into the cytoplasm. The viral RNA is then replicated and translated. Following reproduction of all viral components, coronavirus is assembled and released via vesicular exocytosis.