Montana Research Lab In US Releases Latest Detailed Images Of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus.
A
coronavirus research team at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAID's) Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana, United States has released a
latest series of detailed images for the first time from their lab showing the new
SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
This transmission electron microscope image shows the SARS-CoV2 virus Credit: NIAID-RML
The new digitally colorized images illustrate the crown-like appearance of the new
coranovirus, officially called
SARS-CoV-2 due to its similarity to the 2002 SARS virus.
According to the researchers the new
coronavirus is notably similar in appearance to both the MERS and SARS viruses.
The detailed images highlight the spikes covering the
coronavirus, an iconic feature of
coronaviruses that led to its virus family name, corona being Latin for "crown." The images have been digitally colored in order to help visually separate the virus from surrounding cells and illustrate how the virus replicates and emerges from the surface of cells during
research.
This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV2 colorized with different tones to better highlight the
crown-like spikes protruding from the surface of the virus Credit : NIAID-RML
Though the disease caused by the virus has been named Covid-19, the virus itself received a different title late last week when the International Committee of Taxonomy of Viruses renamed the pathogen SARS-CoV-2. It was previously called the novel 2019-nCoV virus.
The new naming of the virus recognizes its similarity to the SARS virus, calling it a "sister to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs)."
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV2 (coloured in orange) isolated from a patient in the US
emerging from surface of cells (light brown) in the lab Credit: NIAID-RML
Online sites, media, hospitals, research laboratories, at meetings and briefings etc, there has been so much confusion over the past week due to the virus and disease being given different names, unlike the recent SARS and MERS scenarios where the virus and disease were dubbed with similar titles.
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Virus particles coloured orange, emerging from cells coloured . Credit: NIAID-RML
Some medical researchers and scientists have expressed frustration over the naming confusion, particularly with the new virus's name essentially being titled SARS version 2.
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This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV2 (coloured in yellow) isolated emerging from surface of
cells (purplish light pink) Credit: NIAID-RML
There was even a joke by a some to call it TCV or Tedros’ China Virus, taking a jibe at the WHO’s director general ‘full of praise’ relationship with China.
Virus particles are shown emerging from the surface of cells cultured in lab. Credit: NIAID-RML
Dr Mike Osterholm, from the University of Minnesota, suggests the virus name is confusing as the Covid-19 disease is very distinct from the SARS disease. He added, “Our hope is there is a reconsideration of the virus and disease naming and another effort made to reconcile the two, so they are more similar and more descriptive of what this virus is doing to humans and how it fits into
coronavirus virology.”
In this image the virus particles are coloured yellow emerging from surface of cells coloured blue & purple Credit: NIAID-RML
It should be noted that WHO or the World Health Organization is behind this naming mess.
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