title: Coronaviruses: important emerging human pathogens.
abstract: The identification of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012 reaffirmed the importance of understanding how coronaviruses emerge, infect, and cause disease. By comparing what is known about severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) to what has recently been found for MERS-CoV, researchers are discovering similarities and differences that may be important for pathogenesis. Here we discuss what is known about each virus and what gaps remain in our understanding, especially concerning MERS-CoV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Frieman
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000821:virology*; D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans