spike protein
Coronavirus surface feature
A spike protein is a protein that protrudes from the surface of certain viruses, giving them a crown-like or spiky appearance.
These proteins enable viruses to attach to and enter host cells.
The term gained widespread use during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the coronavirus spike protein became the target of vaccines: The vaccine teaches your immune system to recognize the spike protein.
Spike-ringed viral family
- SARS-CoV-2Pandemic-causing coronavirus species
- virionSingle viral unit
- fusionJoining into unity
- entryAccess or submission
host cell · viral replication · membrane · endocytosis · tropism · infectivity · variants · Delta
Signal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
- dockingConnecting to a port
attachment · recognition · specificity · avidity · dissociation · binding site
Protein bonded to carbohydrates
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- conformationStructural form or arrangement
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- subunitPart of larger entity
Gene's working copy
- immunizationProtective medical injection
- PfizerGlobal medication and vaccine company
- ModernaBiotech vaccine company
- AstraZenecaMultinational pharmaceutical corporation
Sputnik · booster · adjuvant · efficacy · recombinant · nanoparticle · lipid · immunogen
Proteins targeting pathogens
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
- epitopeAntibody binding region
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- B-cellsAntibody-secreting immune cells
memory cells · humoral · cytokines · immunoglobulin · adaptive · innate
coronavirus
Spike-ringed viral family
- SARS-CoV-2Pandemic-causing coronavirus species
- virionSingle viral unit
- fusionJoining into unity
entry · host cell · viral replication · membrane · endocytosis · tropism · infectivity · variants · Delta · Omicron
receptor
Signal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
docking · attachment · recognition · specificity · avidity · dissociation · binding site
glycoprotein
Protein bonded to carbohydrates
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- conformationStructural form or arrangement
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
mRNA
Gene's working copy
- immunizationProtective medical injection
- PfizerGlobal medication and vaccine company
- ModernaBiotech vaccine company
AstraZeneca · Sputnik · booster · adjuvant · efficacy · recombinant · nanoparticle · lipid · immunogen
antibodies
Proteins targeting pathogens
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
- epitopeAntibody binding region
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
B-cells · memory cells · humoral · cytokines · immunoglobulin · adaptive · innate
- pandemiclockdowns, COVID-19, outbreak, epidemic, COVID
- COVID-19COVID-19, mRNA vaccines, omicron, variants, Delta variant
- Antigensantigen, allergens, immunogen, epitope, allergen
- vaccine ingredientsadjuvant, adjuvants, antigen, antigens, preservative
- Viral Componentscapsid, envelope, viral envelope, virion, tegument
- virus partscapsid, envelope, viral genome, glycoprotein, tegument
spike proteinviral genome
Virus's complete genetic sequence
RNA · viral RNA · genetic material · membrane protein · capsid
spike, spiky, protein, spiked, spikes, proteins, spiking, unspiked