Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral particle (SARS-CoV-2 viral particle)

The **SARS-CoV-2 viral particle** is the infectious form of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the genus *Betacoronavirus*[1][5]. Each particle (virion) ranges from 60 to 140 nanometers in diameter and contains four main structural proteins: **spike (S)**, **envelope (E)**, **membrane (M)**, and **nucleocapsid (N)**, as well as additional accessory and non-structural proteins involved in the virus's life cycle[1][5][2]. The **spike protein** mediates virus attachment and entry into human cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (**ACE2**) receptor[1][3]. Although many therapies and vaccines are designed to target specific SARS-CoV-2 proteins, the whole viral particle is not a "target" in the conventional molecular sense, but represents the aggregate of all targets present in the infectious entity[1][3][4][7]. Detection and quantitation of the viral particle or its components serve as key diagnostics and clinical biomarkers for COVID-19[2][5].

Other names

SARS-CoV-2 virionSARS-CoV-2 particleNovel coronavirus viral particleCOVID-19 virus particle

Inhibition of viral entry (block spike protein—ACE2 interaction); inhibition of viral RNA replication (polymerase/protease inhibitors); neutralization of viral particles via host antibodies or monoclonal antibodies.