Figure 1.

(a) Entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells can take several routes: (1) virus delivered by filopodia extending from nearby infected cell; (2–4) fusion, invagination into cell; (5) transport by motor proteins toward MTOC; (6) transport from MTOC to different cell regions; and (7) entry into nucleus for reverse transcription and replication. The MTOC includes two perpendicular cylinders embedded in a dense electronegative “pericentriolar material”. The MTOC appears to enable optimal traffic along microtubules to distribute and replicate SARS-CoV-2 virus. (b) After reverse transcription and replication, virion is transported to MTOC (3,4,5) and from there along microtubules to other cellular regions and, ultimately, egress from the cell (6–9).