Identification of a new human coronavirus.
Three human coronaviruses are known to exist: human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E), HCoV-OC43 and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Here we report the identification of a fourth human coronavirus, HCoV-NL63, using a new method of virus discovery. The virus was isolated from a 7-month-old child suffering from bronchiolitis and conjunctivitis. The complete genome sequence indicates that this virus is not a recombinant, but rather a new group 1 coronavirus. The in vitro host cell range of HCoV-NL63 is notable because it replicates on tertiary monkey kidney cells and the monkey kidney LLC-MK2 cell line. The viral genome contains distinctive features, including a unique N-terminal fragment within the spike protein. Screening of clinical specimens from individuals suffering from respiratory illness identified seven additional HCoV-NL63-infected individuals, indicating that the virus was widely spread within the human population.
van der Hoek
Lia
L
Department of Human Retrovirology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Pyrc
Krzysztof
K
Jebbink
Maarten F
MF
Vermeulen-Oost
Wilma
W
Berkhout
Ron J M
RJ
Wolthers
Katja C
KC
Wertheim-van Dillen
Pauline M E
PM
Kaandorp
Jos
J
Spaargaren
Joke
J
Berkhout
Ben
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017931:DNA Primers; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers