Abstract

The coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a positive-sense ssRNA genome, possess helical symmetry, and belongs to the family Coronaviridae. They cause mild to lethal respiratory tract infections in both mammals and birds. The more pathogenic coronaviruses cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. The recent coronavirus outbreak was first discovered in December 2019. Subsequently, the disease has been declared as a pandemic by The World Health Organization (WHO). The virus is named Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease is now called COVID-19 [Coronavirus disease 2019]. The primary route of the virus spread between people is through close contact where a healthy person inhales the respiratory droplets from an infected person either by cough or sneezing. More than 2 million confirmed cases are reported globally. The US has the world's largest number of COVID-19 cases followed by European countries. As of April 18, 2020, 2 074 529 confirmed, and 139 378 deaths were reported. Presently, there is no specific drug or vaccine that is approved to treat SARS-CoV-2. The practice of hygienic measures such as frequent hand wash, use of masks, and social distancing would prevent the spread of the disease. This review focuses on a brief description of the viral structure and its multiplication, epidemiology and therapeutics with a special mention on the nanotechnology approach to combat covid-19. This review describes briefly the SARS-CoV-2 viral structure and its multiplication, epidemiology and therapeutics.

Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, viral structure, multiplication site, entry of the virus, therapeutics, practice hygiene measures, prevention.

Graphical Abstract