Coronavirus Host Cell Attachment and Entry
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that contain single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes. Several members of this group, which include severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), are highly pathogenic and have caused significant disease outbreaks in human hosts. In order for human coronaviruses to transcribe and replicate their genomes within host cells, they must first attach and gain entry into host cells using a variety of cell surface receptors and components of the endocytic machinery.