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This spike protein's structure provides a vulnerability—referred to as the virus's Achilles heel—that researchers aim to target. Armed with this genetic knowledge, scientists can develop strategies to halt infection, primarily by designing vaccines that train the immune system to recognize and neutralize these critical proteins before the virus can establish infection.
The Global Emergence of a Threat: Outbreaks and Initial Responses
The novel coronavirus sparked concern from its earliest days. The outbreak traced back to Wuhan, China, swiftly catching global attention as the virus spread across borders. Countries like the US, Japan, Singapore, and others reported their first cases, prompting urgent public health alerts.