Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which binds to ectoenzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. It is very contagious and is spreading rapidly around the world. Until now, coronaviruses have mainly been associated with the aerodigestive tract due to the presence of a monobasic cleavage site for the resident transmembrane serine protease 2. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 is equipped with a second, polybasic cleavage site for the ubiquitous furin protease, which may determine the widespread tissue tropism. Furthermore, the terminal sequence of the furin-cleaved spike protein also binds to neuropilin receptors. Clinically, there is enormous variability in the severity of the disease. Severe consequences are seen in a relatively small number of patients, most show moderate symptoms, but asymptomatic cases, especially among young people, drive disease spread. Unfortunately, the number of local infections can quickly build up, causing disease outbreaks suddenly exhausting health services’ capacity. Therefore, COVID-19 is dangerous and unpredictable and has become the most serious threat for generations. Here, the latest research on COVID-19 is summarized, including its spread, testing methods, organ-specific complications, the role of comorbidities, long-term consequences, mortality, as well as a new hope for immunity, drugs, and vaccines.

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COVID-19 的威胁

2019 冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 是由新型严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 引起，该病毒与胞外酶血管紧张素转换酶 2 结合。它具有很强的传染性，正在世界各地迅速传播。到目前为止，冠状病毒主要与呼吸消化道有关，因为存在常驻跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶 2 的一元裂解位点。值得注意的是，SARS-CoV-2 配备了第二个针对普遍存在的弗林蛋白酶的多碱基裂解位点。 ，这可能决定了广泛的组织向性。此外，弗林蛋白酶切割的刺突蛋白的末端序列也与神经毡蛋白受体结合。临床上，疾病的严重程度存在巨大差异。相对少数患者会出现严重后果，大多数患者表现出中度症状，但无症状病例，尤其是年轻人，会推动疾病传播。不幸的是，当地感染人数可能会迅速增加，导致疾病暴发，从而耗尽卫生服务的能力。因此，COVID-19 是危险且不可预测的，已成为几代人面临的最严重的威胁。这里总结了有关COVID-19的最新研究，包括其传播、检测方法、器官特异性并发症、合并症的作用、长期后果、死亡率，以及免疫、药物和疫苗的新希望。