Ehre Lab, UNC School of Medicine
Lung infection caused by coronavirus is captured in vivid detail by an electron microscope showing the virus' virions in red infesting blue ciliated cells and creating strands of yellow-green mucus.
Cilia are the hair-like structures that line the airways of the lungs, moving out mucus and trapped viruses. Virions are the complete, infectious form of the virus released onto respiratory surfaces by infected host cells. The large viral burden is a source for spread of infection to multiple organs of an infected individual and the spread of COVID-19 to others.
The color images were captured at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine laboratory of Camille Ehre, PhD and re-colorized by UNC medical student Cameron Morrison. They illustrate the intensity the SARS-CoV-2 infection of the airways.
