This illustration shows SAR-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in molecular detail according to research completed in April, 2020 (research on the spike and nucleoprotein structure has since evolved). The image was featured on the cover of the July 2020 issue of Scientific American. The SARS-CoV-2 virion includes the spike protein (orange), lipid envelope (pink), envelope (E) protein (yellow), membrane (M) protein (purple), nucleoprotein (blue), and RNA (red).

PURPOSE

To illustrate the molecular structure of coronavirus for Scientific American readers, and attract their attention to the full story, A Visual Guide to the Coronavirus.

EQUIPMENT / TECHNIQUE

Maxon Cinema4D, Photoshop, many hours of research