Coronavirus Structure

Coronavirus 'spike' protein just mapped, leading way to vaccine

By Yasemin Saplakoglu - Staff Writer 3 hours ago

The coronavirus uses this protein to invade human cells.

 
 
 
 
 

This is the 3D atomic scale map or molecular structure of the SARS-2-CoV protein "spike" which the virus uses to invade human cells.

(Image: © Jason McLellan/Univ. of Texas at Austin)

Researchers worldwide are racing to develop potential vaccines and drugs to fight the new coronavirus, called SARS-Cov-2.  Now, a group of researchers has figured out the molecular structure of a key protein that the coronavirus uses to invade human cells, potentially opening the door to the development of a vaccine, according to new findings.