My biology of coronavirus SARS-2 by: Alanna DeGroot

Coronavirus' or CoVs are a single-strand RNA virus that attacks a number of organisms, they are mostly found in bats. There are also strains found in pigs, birds, cows, and humans. These CoV strains are phylogenetically different from other CoVs in that they originated in bats and were passed on to humans from an intermediate host.

The genome of the coronavirus is made up of the following structural proteins: a nucleocapsid protein, spike protein, envelope protein, and the membrane protein. They get their name due to the spike protein that covers the outside of the virus which makes it look like a crown.

These new CoVs are able to be passed from person to person quite quickly and they are stronger than previously discovered strains. , in human beings these viruses will cause mild upper respiratory infections but in the last few years strains have emerged that have caused severe upper respiratory infections that can sometimes be fatal. 

SARS-CoV is one of the more virulent strains of CoV's to have emerged in 2002. This strain affected 29 Southeast Asian countries with the number of people infected reaching 8096 and the death toll that reached 774. The current strain affecting the world has reached more than 100 countries and the number of cases just in the US has reached 140,904 and the death toll has reached 2405 people. The the number of cases rising by the hundreds each day around the world. 

Symptoms of coronavirus SARS-2 are fever, shortness of breath, and cough. In order to be tested for coronavirus SARS-2 a person would need to go to a healthcare facility to have a lab test done. There is currently no treatment or cure for this strain of CoV. Health care professionals are working to relieve the symptoms the virus causes. 

Practicing good hygiene and social distancing can help to stop the spread of this virus. Some ways of prevention are:

     Washing your hands frequently

     Not touching your face without washing your hands

     Using hand sanitizer when soap is not available

     Covering your mouth when coughing

     Keeping your distance from others not living in your household 

     Staying home or going to the doctor if experiencing any symptoms of the virus

References: 

https://www.rndsystems.com/resources/articles/ace-2-sars-receptor-identified

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html