Characterization of a Novel Coronavirus Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2003-05, Vol.300 (5624), p.1394-1399
• Main Authors: Rota, Paul A., Oberste, M. Steven, Monroe, Stephan S., Nix, W. Allan, Campagnoli, Ray, Icenogle, Joseph P., Peñaranda, Silvia, Bankamp, Bettina, Maher, Kaija, Chen, Min-hsin, Tong, Suxiong, Tamin, Azaibi, Lowe, Luis, Frace, Michael, DeRisi, Joseph L., Chen, Qi, Wang, David, Erdman, Dean D., Teresa C. T. Peret, Burns, Cara, Ksiazek, Thomas G., Rollin, Pierre E., Sanchez, Anthony, Liffick, Stephanie, Holloway, Brian, Limor, Josef, McCaustland, Karen, Olsen-Rasmussen, Melissa, Fouchier, Ron, Günther, Stephan, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus, Drosten, Christian, Pallansch, Mark A., Anderson, Larry J., Bellini, William J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Amino acids; Biological and medical sciences; Causes of; China; Conserved Sequence; Control; Coronavirus; Coronavirus - classification; Coronavirus - genetics; Coronaviruses; Development and progression; DNA; DNA, Complementary; Endopeptidases - chemistry; Endopeptidases - genetics; Epidemics; Etiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Genome, Viral; Genomes; Genomics; Hong Kong; Humans; Literary Devices; Membrane Glycoproteins - chemistry; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Messenger RNA; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Nucleocapsid Proteins - chemistry; Nucleocapsid Proteins - genetics; Observations; Open Reading Frames; Patients; Phylogeny; Polyproteins - chemistry; Polyproteins - genetics; Proteins; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; RNA; RNA Replicase - chemistry; RNA Replicase - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Viral - genetics; SARS virus; SARS Virus - chemistry; SARS Virus - classification; SARS Virus - genetics; SARS Virus - isolation & purification; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - virology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Transcription, Genetic; Viral Envelope Proteins - chemistry; Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics; Viral Matrix Proteins - chemistry; Viral Matrix Proteins - genetics; Viral Proteins - chemistry; Viral Proteins - genetics; Virology; Viruses
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1085952

In March 2003, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was discovered in association with cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The sequence of the complete genome of SARS-CoV was determined, and the initial characterization of the viral genome is presented in this report. The genome of SARS-CoV is 29,727 nucleotides in length and has 11 open reading frames, and its genome organization is similar to that of other coronaviruses. Phylogenetic analyses and sequence comparisons showed that SARS-CoV is not closely related to any of the previously characterized coronaviruses.