As HCoV-NL63 infects the respiratory tract it must be inhaled to get there, and is therefore transmitted by the airborne route. The virus is able to survive for up to seven days in respiratory secretions and remains infectious at room temperature. Once the virus has entered the host, it binds to cellular receptors via its spike proteins. The virus is able to use Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as an entry receptor to bind to and enter target cells.
Human coronavirus NL63
SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant
Human coronavirus OC43
SARS-CoV-2 Gamma variant
Human coronavirus HKU1
SARS-CoV-2 Iota variant
SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant
Influenza D virus