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. 2023 Feb 23;9(3):e13952. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13952

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Routes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry: The SARS-CoV-2 enters target cells either by (A) membrane fusion or by (B) receptor-mediated endocytosis. (A) In membrane fusion, the S protein is mediated by transmembrane peptidase/serine subfamily member 2 (TMPRSS2), resulting in fusion of the viral membrane with the plasma membrane. (B) Binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 receptor leads to virus uptake into endosomes. The spike (S) glycoprotein is activated by cysteine peptidase cathepsin L in endo-lysosomes. In both way (A or B), the RNA genetic material of the virus will enter and starts RNA replication. (B) Binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 receptor leads to virus uptake into endocytosis. The spike (S) glycoprotein is activated by cysteine peptidase cathepsin L in endo-lysosomes. In both way (A or B), the RNA genetic material of the virus will enter and starts RNA replication.