To get the new images, the virus has been 3D-scanned.
- A very powerful technology is used to study the structure of authentic coronavirus in its real environment.
This has previously been done in 2D, but now it is done in 3D, which is a big step forward, says Niklas Arnberg, professor of virology at Umeå University.
The pictures, which have been colored to be extra clear, do not really show anything new, but they confirm the model of what coronavirus looks like.
- It is positive, and contributes to us gaining an increased understanding of coronavirus' structure and function. It can also provide guidance on how to develop coronavirus vaccines using, for example, nanotechnology.