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Review
. 2007 Sep;30(5-6):309-27.
doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2007.05.009. Epub 2007 Jul 19.

Towards our understanding of SARS-CoV, an emerging and devastating but quickly conquered virus

Youjun Feng  1 , George F Gao
Affiliations
Review

Towards our understanding of SARS-CoV, an emerging and devastating but quickly conquered virus

Youjun Feng et al. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2007 Sep.

Abstract
in English, French

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly emerging infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which has overwhelmed more than 30 countries claiming nearly 8400 cases with over 800 fatalities. Thanks to the unprecedented international collaboration, the whole-genomes of SARS-CoVs were successfully deciphered shortly after the identification of the causative pathogen for outbreak of SARS in southern China, in 2003. Hitherto, the SARS-CoV, as a viral paradigm of emerging infectious entities, has been extensively studied that has ranged from epidemiology, molecular virology/immunology to structural genomics. Also, several lines of breakthroughs have been record-brokenly obtained, that included the finding of ACE2, a functional receptor for the SARS-CoV, solution of the 3CL(pro) structure, a first crystal structure of SARS-related macromolecules, revealing of bats as natural reservoirs for SARS-like viruses and the possible involvement of civet cats in the SARS emergence. This review intends to outline the major progress in the journey of SARS-related exploration, by emphasizing those inaugurated studies with milestone-like significance contributed by Chinese research groups.

Le syndrome respiratoire aigu sévère (SRAS ou SARS), une maladie infectieuse émergeante causée par un nouveau coronavirus (SARS-CoV), toucha plus de 8400 personnes causant 800 morts dans 30 pays différents. Grâce à la mise en place d’une collaboration internationale sans précédent le décryptage du génome complet du SARS-CoV fut réalisé très peu de temps après l’identification de l’agent pathogène suite au déclenchement de l’épidémie dans le sud de la Chine en 2003. Le SARS-CoV en temps que paradigme de maladies infectieuses émergeantes a fait l’objet d’une étude complète en passant de l’épidémiologie, la virologie/immunologie moléculaire à la génomique structurale. Ainsi, c’est en un temps record qu’ont été obtenues des données majeures incluant la découverte de ACE2, un récepteur fonctionnel pour le SARS-CoV, la structure du 3CLpro première structure cristallographique d’une macromolécule du SARS, révélant que la chauve-souris était le réservoir naturel de virus du type SARS, et que la civette était certainement à l’origine de l’émergence du SRAS. Cette revue vise à souligner les progrès majeurs réalisés dans l’exploration du SRAS, en soulignant l’importance des travaux primordiaux et précoces réalisés par les chercheurs chinois.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Characterization of the SARS-CoV. (A) Genomic structure of the SARS-CoV. (B) Schematic representation of the SARS-CoV virion. (C) Phylogenetic tree showing the relationships among the members of Family Coronaviridae based on the amino acid sequences of the spike proteins. MHV, HCoV-OC43, and BCoV belong to Group I of coronavirus, FIPV, TGEV, HCoV-229E, and SARS-CoV are classified into Group II of coronavirus. The SARS-CoV was highlighted in red. IBV forms an independent unique group, Group III. MHV, mouse hepatitis virus; HCoV-OC43, human coronavirus isolate OC43; BCoV, bovine coronavirus; FIPV, feline infectious peritonitis virus; TGEV, transmissible gastroenteritis virus; HCoV-229E, human coronavirus isolate 229E; IBV, infectious bronchitis virus.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Landmark events in the SARS-related research field.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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