SARS-CoV-2: biochemical aspects and diagnostic methods

SARS-CoV-2: generalidades bioquímicas y métodos de diagnóstico

On December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission (Hubei Province, China) reports on an unusual outbreak of pneumonia cases in the city. Subsequently it is determined that it is a new coronavirus initially designated as 2019-nCoV and later, SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in pneumocytes and macrophages of the respiratory system specifically in the lung parenchyma where the ACE-2 cell receptor resides. This review describes aspects related to the transmission, prevention, biochemical generalities of SARS-CoV-2 and diagnostic methods of COVID-19. Initially, it describes the form of virus transmission and general recommendations for its prevention. Subsequently, a detailed description is made of the biochemical aspects of SARS-CoV-2, its infectious cycle and the structure of protein S, which is involved in the process of entry of the virus into the cell. Finally, the methods and laboratory tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are described.

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