Electron microscope images of human coronaviruses - Reality versus illusion.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic disease earlier in 2020, several publications reported the electron microscope images of SARS-CoV-2. This article reviews 73 articles from March 1956 till April 2021, focusing on the ultrastructure characteristics of the coronaviruses. We present the scientific debate and provide an opinion on the current controversy of electron microscopic images interpreted as SARS-CoV-2 particles in specimens from patients with COVID-19. Finally, we report our findings in a post-mortem lung specimen of a COVID-19 patient. With this we hope to facilitate accurate interpretation of TEM findings, and contribute to the building of a unified database in the face of COVID-19 (Tab. 2, Fig. 8, Ref. 81). Keywords.