The SARS-CoV-2 genome was rapidly sequenced by Chinese researchers. It is an RNA molecule of about 30,000 bases containing 15 genes, including the S gene which codes for a protein located on the surface of the viral envelope (for comparison, our genome is in the form of a double helix of DNA about 3 billion bases in size and contains about 30,000 genes).
Comparative genomic analyses have shown that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the group of Betacoronaviruses and that it is very close to SARS-CoV, responsible for an epidemic of acute pneumonia which appeared in November 2002 in the Chinese province of Guangdong and then spread to 29 countries in 2003.
A total of 8,098 cases were recorded, including 774 deaths. It is known that bats of the genus Rhinolophus (potentially several cave species) were the reservoir of this virus and that a small carnivore, the palm civet (Paguma larvata), may have served as an intermediate host between bats and the first human cases.
Since then, many Betacoronaviruses have been discovered, mainly in bats, but also in humans. For example, RaTG13, isolated from a bat of the species Rhinolophus affinis collected in China's Yunan Province, has recently been described as very similar to SARS-CoV-2, with genome sequences identical to 96 percent.
These results indicate that bats, and in particular species of the genus Rhinolophus, constitute the reservoir of the SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
The Sarbecoviruses (SARS and SARS-related beta coronaviruses) are a fairly diverse clade of coronaviruses, noted as clade 2b in the attached review paper on origins of pathogenic coronaviruses. Merbecoviruses (MERS and MERS-related beta coronaviruses) are another clade with similar diversity, noted as clade 2c in the attached review paper on origins of pathogenic coronaviruses. The SARS and SARS-CoV-2 sarbecoviruses are quite distant from each other within the sabecovirus clade. Within each major clade, a lot of recombination occurs such that we can't easily date the common ancestor of any two strains.
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china/questions-answers
The novel coronavirus detected in China in 2019 is closely related genetically to the SARS-CoV-1 virus.
The Sarbecoviruses (SARS and SARS-related beta coronaviruses) are a fairly diverse clade of coronaviruses, noted as clade 2b in the attached review paper on origins of pathogenic coronaviruses. Merbecoviruses (MERS and MERS-related beta coronaviruses) are another clade with similar diversity, noted as clade 2c in the attached review paper on origins of pathogenic coronaviruses. The SARS and SARS-CoV-2 sarbecoviruses are quite distant from each other within the sabecovirus clade. Within each major clade, a lot of recombination occurs such that we can't easily date the common ancestor of any two strains.
Studies on the Relationship Between Coronaviruses from the Intestinal and Respiratory Tracts oi Calves :
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF01317007.pdf
SARs-COV-2 is a coronavirus that has caused the Coronavirus disease 2019 throghout the globe and it has become pandemic. Only two viruses had previously been reported to cause global outbreak- (1) SARS coronaviruses responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome and (2) MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) coronavirus. In all instances transmission is through the respiratory route. Genome sequencing studies to identify the DNA structure of the novel coronavirus, showed that its genomic sequence was 79% the same as that of SARS coronavirus and 50% like that of MERS coronavirus.
you can have a look at phylogenetic relationships of SARS-CoV-2 with others at here: https://nextstrain.org/groups/blab/sars-like-cov
In short, it is over 96% the same as SARS-CoV-1. It targets the same cell surface receptor, ACE-2, in humans.
I learned from RG member Amy Johnson on another thread that "SARS and COVID-19 share 81% of the same genetic sequence."
Here is an excerpt from an online CleanLink statement I replied on another, similar link in response to RG member Christian G Meyer's correction of my mistaken assumption that SARS-Covid-2 is "equivalent" to COVID-19:
"According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are actually multiple types of coronaviruses, some of which commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. There are seven types of coronavirus that infect humans, three of which evolved from animal strains.
Because there are many coronavirus types, referring to it simply as "coronavirus" is very general. The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) encourage experts to use COVID-19 when referring to this new disease, a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ ‘D’ for disease and 19 indicates the year it was discovered.
Just as the general public has become familiar with this terminology, officials have also begun using SARS-CoV-2 in connection with the recent outbreak. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, shortened to SARS-CoV-2, is actually the virus that causes COVID-19 (the disease). As the name indicates, this virus is genetically related to the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that caused an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003, however it is not the same virus.
How do all these terms fit together? "Coronavirus" is a generic term that includes a large family of viruses, similar to saying someone has the flu. SARS-CoV-2 is a specific virus that can cause COVID-19, a disease. As WHO explains, this is similar to differentiating HIV and AIDS — HIV is a virus that causes AIDS. Outlined on their website, "People often know the name of a disease, such as measles, but not the name of the virus that causes it (rubeola). . . .
. . . . Whether talking about the virus or the disease, it is important to practice and share best practices for cleaning and disinfecting."
https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/SARS-CoV-2-and-COVID-19-Whats-The-Difference--25264
Corona virus that causes Covid 19 is an upgraded version of the SARS virus that causes Covid 1 and Virus Mers, which infected Saudi camels in 2013 and some research says that the first appearance of the virus in 1969 and that this is the seventh version of the virus.
Very informative interaction.
I agree with @ Nancy Ann Watanabe.
Even I have gone through the discussion that you just mentioned..
Be safe 🙏
There are huge similarities and relationship found with other coronaviruses. Numerous coronaviruses, first discovered in domestic poultry in the 1930s, cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver, and neurologic diseases in animals. Only 7 coronaviruses are known to cause disease in humans.
Four of the 7 coronaviruses most frequently cause symptoms of the common cold. Coronaviruses 229E and OC43 cause the common cold; the serotypes NL63 and HUK1 have also been associated with the common cold. Rarely, severe lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, can occur, primarily in infants, older people, and the immunocompromised.
Three of the 7 coronaviruses cause much more severe, and sometimes fatal, respiratory infections in humans than other coronaviruses and have caused major outbreaks of deadly pneumonia in the 21st century:
- SARS-CoV2 is a novel coronavirus identified as the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that began in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and spread worldwide.
- MERS-CoV was identified in 2012 as the cause of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
- SARS-CoV was identified in 2002 as the cause of an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
These coronaviruses that cause severe respiratory infections are zoonotic pathogens, which begin in infected animals and are transmitted from animals to people.
I apologize that I am an agronomist and do not have a background in virology, but I see the development of this virus which is very fast so there needs to be anticipation from the more appropriate chemistry. once again I apologize for not contributing much thought in this discussion, thank you
Nucleotide similarity of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses
All Coronaviruses are RNA viruses. The nucleotide similarity of SARS-CoV-2 compared to other significant coronaviruses is well described in this book chapter:
http://book.bionumbers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SARS-CoV-2_BTN_0329b.pdf
Interesting subject need more discuss by the specialist in the RG members.
Dr. Michael Lin at Stanford did a great powerpoint on the Coronavirus. Its on youtube. He hits on several points about your question. I enjoyed it. He actually cried a little mentioning that scientist who died in China. After I read a paper I keep it. If you want take all mine from my Google drive.
https://www.researchgate.net/project/The-Coronavirus-Files
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
https://www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-vs-sars
A new, very relevant paper on the relationship with the 2003 SARS-CoV:
A SARS-like Coronavirus was Expected, but nothing was done to be Prepared
- May 2020
- DOI: https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.34297%2FAJBSR.2020.08.001312
https://www.medwave.cl/link.cgi/English/Reviews/GeneralReviews/7891.act
Please have a look..
https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/respiratory-viruses/coronaviruses-and-acute-respiratory-syndromes-covid-19,-mers,-and-sars
Here are some of the many papers answering to your question :
https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/186/15/496.1
Article Rates of Co-infection between SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respirato...
Article Close relationship between SARS-coronavirus and group 2 coronavirus
Article Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and other coronaviru...
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronaviruses-and-heart-health
https://pharma.elsevier.com/covid-19/exploiting-similarities-between-sars-cov-2-and-other-viruses-to-accelerate-vaccine-and-therapy-development/
Seven coronaviruses are known to cause disease in human. Three of the seven coronaviruses cause severe, respiratory infection in humans. SARS- CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus, the cause of COVID 19 began in China in late 2019 and has spread worldwide. MERS-CoV was identified in 2012 as the cause of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). And SARS-CoV , identified in 2003, was the cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that began in China. These coronaviruses that cause severe respiratory infections are zoonotic pathogens, which begin in infected animals and are transmitted from animals to people. SARS- CoV-2 is more transmissible and is more deleterious and fatal than the other two viruses.
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