Phylogenetic perspectives on the epidemiology and origins of SARS and SARS-like coronaviruses.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory disease caused by a zoonotic coronavirus (CoV) named SARS-CoV (SCoV), which rapidly swept the globe after its emergence in rural China during late 2002. The origins of SCoV have been mysterious and controversial, until the recent discovery of SARS-like CoV (SLCoV) in bats and the proposal of bats as the natural reservior of the Coronaviridae family. In this article, we focused on discussing how phylogenetics contributed to our understanding towards the emergence and transmission of SCoV. We first reviewed the epidemiology of SCoV from a phylogenetic perspective and discussed the controversies over its phylogenetic origins. Then, we summarized the phylogenetic findings in relation to its zoonotic origins and the proposed inter-species viral transmission events. Finally, we also discussed how the discoveries of SCoV and SLCoV expanded our knowledge on the evolution of the Coronaviridae family as well as its implications on the possible future re-emergence of SCoV.
The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
Chi Wai
CW
Yip
Chung Chau
CC
Hon
Mang
M
Shi
Tommy Tsan-Yuk
TT
Lam
Ken Yan-Ching
KY
Chow
Fanya
F
Zeng
Frederick Chi-Ching
FC
Leung
D000818:Animals; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*