Melanie Connolly of Chicago Medical Graphics built this 3D rendering of the virus that causes COVID-19. It includes numerous M surface proteins (PDB 3I6G), a few E pores (PDB 5X29) and several large trimer S spikes. A few of the S spikes show a single chain in the “open” conformation, indicating readiness to bind the ACE2 surface molecule found on human alveolar lung cells. This binding mechanism is part of what has allowed the virus to infect so readily.
Keywords: 3D, Editorial, Patient Education, Research, Cell biology / Histology, Virology, Mechanism of Action (MOA)
© Melanie Connolly