Structure of coronavirus with classification of viruses

Viruses can only survive within a host cell so that applied to coronavirus as well. Viruses have a genetic material which enables them to reproduce however they do not have enzymes required for protein as well as nucleic acid synthesis so they need help of some other cells so that they use their machinery and produce proteins and enzymes necessary for their protection as well as for their multiplication.

Structures of virus

All viruses have a genome which is surrounded by a protein coat known as capsid. The protein coat i.e the capsid is basically proteins which are arranged in a symmetrical manner and form a protective shell for the nucleic acid. The symmetry may be either icosahedral i.e has 20 triangular faces or helical. So all viruses have a genome and a protein coat . Some viruses may be enveloped while some may not be enveloped (naked viruses). The envelope is made up of lipoproteins i.e lipids and proteins. The lipids are derived from the host cell membrane which the viruses infect and they acquire it while they are leaving the cell while the proteins are synthesised by the viral genome using the host machinery.