Fig. 2.

Cellular processes involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection. The interaction of the viral Spike protein with the host ACE receptor mediates cell entry. The packaged viral genome is translated to produce the viral nonstructural proteins that mediate the production of genomic RNAs in a specialized, viral induced double membraned compartment known as the Replication Organelle (RO). Top panel was created with BioRender.com. CoV RNA synthesis may be characterized as continuous (replication of full-length genomic RNA) or discontinuous (transcription or more appropriately described as subgenomic RNA synthesis) (bottom panel).