Fig. 1.

Different processes during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Viral binding: the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein interacts with the host cell surface receptors such as ACE2, GAGs, and other potential receptors; fusion: host proteases such as TMPRSS2, cathepsins, and furin cleave the S1 and S2 subunits, and the S2 subunit mediates the viral fusion; and entry: the virus enter the host cell by endocytosis or membrane fusion. Once inside the host cell, the RNA uses the host machinery to translate the viral proteins. The post-translational modifications happen on structural proteins by hijacking the host system and viral budding occurs at endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartments (ERGIC). Finally, the viral assembly occurs, and the virus is released by exocytosis