Coronaviruses adapted to transmit across mammalian species: expert

The transcript discusses the impact of a virus that infected 80,000 people and caused 2,700 deaths, primarily in Hubei, China. It explores the transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2, likely from bats to pangolins to humans, and compares it to other coronaviruses like SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which jumped from civet cats and camels, respectively. The mechanism of infection is explained, focusing on how coronaviruses use surface glycoproteins to bind to host cell receptors, with the S1 subunit playing a crucial role in this process.

What role do surface glycoproteins play in the infection process of coronaviruses?

What is the S1 subunit in coronaviruses, and why is it significant?