What science knows about SARS-CoV-2
Scientists and doctors everywhere are working to understand and combat the virus. Only when all the biochemical processes surrounding the virus have been identified and analyzed will it be possible to combat it in the long term.
Researching the structure of the virus
Like any other virus, SARS-CoV-2 is not a living being. In very simplified terms, it consists only of genetic material and an envelope in which various proteins are anchored. A structure that, despite its simplicity, has managed to shake up global life. Since the virus was identified as the cause of COVID-19, scientists and doctors have gathered a great deal of knowledge about its structure and behavior. For example, it is largely known how the virus enters the human cell and hijacks the cell’s own protein factory in order to make it work for its own reproduction.
Nevertheless, there are also major gaps in our knowledge, for example concerning various details of the virus building blocks. Dr. Andrea Thorn has set herself the task of closing these gaps. Together with an international team, she is working on decoding the exact structure of the virus. In doing so, she is providing important information that will enable other scientists to develop drugs and vaccines. She receives support from PETRA III, a facility of the Hamburg research center DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron). Housed in a 300-metre-long hall, PETRA III generates X-rays that can be used to precisely analyze biological samples in the nanometre range.
New medication is required
More precise medication would be a blessing for every doctor treating COVID-19 patients. This is because there is still a lack of routine in dealing with the virus. The virus always behaves differently than expected, which makes treating patients so difficult, as internist Dr. Cihan Celik from Darmstadt Hospital knows. While COVID-19 was originally thought to be a respiratory disease, it is now clear that the virus can damage many organs. Those who have presumably recovered can suffer severe restrictions for a long time to come. Doctors attribute symptoms such as shortness of breath to changes in the lungs and heart. However, the causes of cognitive disorders and fatigue syndrome are still largely unclear.
A film by Film by Birgit Hermes and Thomas Bleich
Camera: Ricardo Garzon / Werner Bachor
Editing: Catrin Füller
Editor: Michael Wiedemann
Director of the program: Volker Angres
A production by K22 on behalf of ZDF
30 min | 2021