Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 4
Entry Mechanism of Murine and SARS
Coronaviruses; Similarity and Dissimilarity
Fumihiro Taguchi*
Introduction
The Coronaviruses consist of human and animal viruses that infect a vari-
ety of animal species, as well as different organs in the hosts.
1,2
Since the
causative agent of a life-threatening pneumonia, severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), was revealed to be a member of the coronavirus
group,
3,4
much attention has been focused on these viruses, from both
the academic and non-academic societies. SARS is a new type of infec-
tious pneumonia that emerged in the Gangdong province of China in
November 2002.
5
It spread around the world through an outbreak in
Hong Kong in March 2003. Patients were reported in 29 countries, and
around 800 people died, although a majority of these cases were in Asian
countries. Within a month after the virus that causes SARS was isolated,
its entire genome sequence became available, which is attributable to the
collaboration between many institutes around the world.
6,7
The result is
the acknowledgement of a novel coronavirus, now called SARS coron-
avirus (SARS-CoV), that is different from other already known existing
human and animal coronaviruses.
3,4,6,7
Since a number of scientists from
distinct fields have participated in the research on this emerging virus,
*Laboratory of Respiratory Viral Diseases and SARS, National Institute of Infectious Diseases,
Murayama Branch, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan.
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