Coronavirus Particles on a Cell Background

Coronavirus particles on a cell background. The virion (virus particle SARS-Cov-2) has characteristic faceting and a corona of spikes. The spikes (shown in reddish-orange) are trimers (three identical proteins wound together) that allow the virus to attach to a cell surface. Once it enters the cell, its RNA is released and directs the production of new virus particles. This novel coronavirus is the cause of pandemic COVID-19.