VIRULENCE FACTORS OF COVID-19

Molecules and products from COVID that facilitate entry/infection:

-S1 spike protein cleavage allows for tighter binding at ACE2 S2 junction.

-DMV packaged dsRNA facilitates new virion exocytosis while avoiding cytoplasmic defenses from the host cell.

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Diagram

-Overstimulated innate immune response (cytokine storm) that presents itself in severe COVID‐19 patients

-Muffled T‐cell‐mediated immune response as a consequence of overabundance of pro-inflammatory cytokines 

-Prevents formation of long‐lasting antibodies against virus as a consequence of downregulated B cell/antibody response.

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