ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) belongs to the family of enveloped coronaviruses. Before the discovery of SARS-CoV, there are two known human coronaviruses, HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43. SARS-CoV has similar morphology to the other coronaviruses. Immunofluorescence assay was more sensitive and could detect antibodies 10 days after onset of symptoms. Molecular tests were more sensitive, using a polymerase chain reaction test that could detect genetic material of the SARS-CoV. SARS-CoV was only rarely detected focally. SARS-CoV genome and expression of some structural proteins and accessory proteins were identified in the pneumocytes and macrophages. Antibodies to SARS-CoV were not found in the general population without SARS, suggesting that this virus had not been circulating in the human population before 2003. The identification of the SARS-CoV as the etiologic agent and the timely availability of the complete genome sequences provoked the scientific community to develop various novel agents targeted to specific proteins of the virus.
