New 3D model to print out yourselfWhat the Coronavirus Really Looks Like

15 August 2022, by Christina Krätzig

Photo: UHH/Thorn

SARS-CoV-2 has fewer spike proteins than presumed— 25 (while SARS-CoV-1 has 100).

At the beginning of the corona pandemic, there were only a few clear data on the SARS-CoV-2. Representations were based on low-resolution electron microscope images or knowledge about the closely related SARS-CoV-1. Now, a team headed by the biophysicist Dr. Andrea Thorn from Universität Hamburg has created a new model of the virus and made it publicly available.

Dr. Thorn researches the molecular structure of the coronavirus. “We often worked closely with the original authors of scientific studies and sought answers to questions about the virus’ structural biology from pharmaceutical developers: how it penetrates a cell, what is looks like, what consequences mutations have for the function of the virus,” said Thorn.

In March 2020, she had already put together an international team of scientists, the Coronavirus Structural Task Force, for her research. Today, 26 researchers from 7 countries are involved and the group is being coordinated by Universität Hamburg.

The task force’s new model corrects earlier assumptions about the virus’ physical appearance:  for example, the virus is smaller than initially assumed. Its spike proteins are very flexible and they swim inside the virus envelope. The number of spike proteins is also lower than initially assumed: while SARS-CoV-1 has roughly 100, the coronavirus has about 25. The team has created a comprehensive collection of images available to the public and in cooperation with the University of Utah a video that shows a lung cell infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

You can see the 3D model online or even create one yourself with a 3D printer. There are also instructions and scientific information on the model.