Coronavirus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coronavirus |
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| Virus classification | |
| Group: |
Group IV ((+)ssRNA)
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| Order: | |
| Family: |
Coronaviridae
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| Subfamily: |
Coronavirinae
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Coronaviruses are viruses in the family Coronaviridae. They are enveloped viruses with a positive-sense RNA genome. They have a nucleocapsid of helical symmetry. The genome size of coronaviruses are about 26 to 32 kilobases, extraordinarily large for an RNA virus.
The name "coronavirus" is derived from the Latin corona, meaning crown or halo, and refers to how virions look under electron microscopy (E.M.). They have a fringe of large, bulbous surface projections looking like a crown. This morphology is created by the viral spike (S) peplomers, which are proteins on the surface of the virus. They decide which cells the virus can infect.
Proteins that contribute to the structure of coronaviruses are the spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N).
Contents
Diseases
Coronaviruses infect the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of mammals and birds. Six different strains of coronaviruses infect humans.
Coronaviruses are believed to cause many common colds in human adults. The significance and economic impact of coronaviruses is hard to assess. Unlike rhinoviruses (another common cold virus), human coronaviruses are difficult to grow in the laboratory.
Examples
Related pages
Images for kids
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Transmission electron micrograph of organ cultured coronavirus OC43
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Structure of a coronavirus
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Diagram of the genome and functional domains of the S protein for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV
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SARS-CoV genome and proteins
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Replicase-transcriptase complex
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Transcription of nested mRNAs
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Nested set of subgenomic mRNAs
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Phylogenetic tree of coronaviruses
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Origins of human coronaviruses with possible intermediate hosts
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Transmission and life-cycle of SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19
See also
In Spanish: Orthocoronavirinae para niños
