SARS相关冠状病毒及其基因组

正在全球部分地区流行的严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS),由于其传染性强、危害性大而引起了广泛关注。各国实验室密切协作,在数月时间内分离出了SARS冠状病毒(SARSCoV),测定了病毒基因组序列,并在猴体内初步再现出SARSCoV所致肺部疾病与人相似,这些工作为遏制SARS的蔓延发挥了重要作用。现就SARSCoV的鉴定、基因组及其产物的结构与功能做一综述。

SARS-associated Coronavirus and Its Genomic Organization

The severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) has recently spread in nearly 30 contries and regions worldwide. Much attention has been paid to this deadly disease due to its high infectivity. In response to this outbreak, a number of laboratories worldwide collaborate internationally to identify the causative agent. A new SARS-associated coronavirus, named SARS-CoV, has been isolated over the past few months from the patients with SARS, and the complete genomic sequences of the SARS virus have been published. The monkey models infected with the SARS-CoV developed the same symptoms and damages as humans do. These research efforts are essential for the further control of the epidemic disease.The available information about the characteristics and genomic structures of the SARS-CoV was collected and reviewed.;