SARS-COV-2 is a type of coronavirus which belongs to the large group of viruses that infects animals ranging from peacock to water animals like whales. SARS-COV-2 is the virus that is responsible for the current pandemic. Coronavirus is named such due to its crown-like structure having spike proteins over the envelope covering the virus. Coronavirus leads to two common symptoms, i.e., respiratory symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms. The respiratory symptoms appear as common cold infection, which can lead to deadly pneumonia-like symptoms if not treated immediately. The gastrointestinal symptoms, on the other hand, occur due to the infection of the gut leading to diarrhea. Virologists are trying to figure out what makes Coronavirus so deadly.
HOW DOES CORONAVIRUS CREATE A HAVOC IN THE HUMAN BODY?
The virus first infects the lungs leading to symptoms similar to the common cold viruses. Still, during the ongoing infection, it results in devastating effects over the immune system leading to permanent damage or, ultimately, death. This damage answers what makes Coronavirus so deadly.
Also Read: Immune system can fight back Coronavirus
SARS-COV-2 is one of the deadly viruses which has genetic material similar to other coronaviruses like MERS-COV or SARS-COV. However, this virus has some changes in the genetic material, which leads to deadly symptoms. SARS-COV-2 comprises of the same genome but with specific changes when compared to SARS-COV, which led to the global outbreak during 2003, but it resulted in 6000 different mutations in coronaviruses. The SARS-COV-2 also has the same genetic material to MERS-COV, which resulted in a widespread disease during 2012. The new virus showed that it invaded and infected the cells of the body similarly to both of these viruses and replicates similarly, leading to a high number of viruses. SARS-COV-2, on the other hand, has a different set of genes or accessories, which gives it an advantage during certain situations within the human body.
HOW DOES THE DEADLY CORONAVIRUS INFECT?
The infection of the coronavirus starts with the viral particle, i.e., spherical shell, which protects the genetic material of the virus. This shell inserts within the human cells and makes around 30 different parts of the virus leading to immediate viral replication. SARSCOV-2 has a binding affinity with the specific proteins, i.e., ACE2, which are present on the outer surface of the cells and help in regulating blood pressure. The spike proteins from the viral surface attach with the ACE2 receptors and lead to the transformation, unfolding, and folding of the spike proteins. This reconfiguration of the viral spike proteins leads to damaging effect over the virus and the human cells. It ultimately forms a channel for the transfer of the genetic material of the virus within the human cells leading to damaging effects over the human body and suppression of the immune system.
Also Read: Research says Coronavirus affects more people with A-type blood
HOW DOES THE VIRUS RESULT IN TRANSMISSION?
SARS-COV-2 can transmit from one individual to another through close contact either due it sneezing, coughing, direct or indirect contamination, staying with infected people in crowded places, and others. It is therefore advised to maintain social distancing to prevent the outrageous pandemic, which is spreading rapidly.
HOW CORONAVIRUS MAKES INDIVIDUALS SICK AND LEADS TO MALAISE?
SARS-COV-2 when binds with the ACE receptors. It rapidly replicates within the type 2 lung cells, causing a soap-like structure. This structure then helps the air to slip deeper within the lungs and passes within the cell lining of the throat. The illness in coronavirus occurs due to the wreak havoc effect over the immune system of the human body. The millions of immune system cells invade the infected lungs in defense but result in severe damaging influence over the lungs in the process of cleaning the virus. SARS-COV-2 results in severe detrimental effects in people, especially of old age, i.e., above 65 years or infants. It also results in critical symptoms n patients with previous medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and others.
SARS-COV-2 is more severe when compared to seasonal influenza. It is because this new virus prevents any signals to reach the immune system by halting the production of interferons. SARS-COV-2 prevents any of these, strips off protein markers, and shreds any antiviral instructions are given by the body due to which it can reside in the body for a month or longer, leading to damaging effects over the body progressively. The transmission rate of SARS-COV-2 is higher and is ten times more deadly in comparison to H1N1 influenza.
MYSTERIES REGARDING THE VIRUS:
There are still many things that unknown regarding the disease, like how it causes the disease, its interaction with the proteins, its structure, and how the replication of the viruses takes place. It is also unknown how the virus will respond to the temperature changes and in different geographical locations. Some types of coronavirus spread rapidly in spring, while for this virus, it is still unknown. During this pandemic, the research community has come up to know all the details of the spike proteins present in the virus, its genetic sequence, along with some trials regarding the therapeutic agents.
REFERENCES: NCBI , NCBI, Viralzone, DOI, DOI, NBC, DOI, DOI, NPR, LIVESCIENCE, CDC, MEDSCAPE, DOI, RNDSYSTEM, CLEVELAND, THEATLANTIC, STATNEWS, CDC