Introduction

Updated by Rohin Gawdi on 4/3/2020.

Summary:

• SARS-CoV-2 is a species of coronavirus (CoV)

  • SARS-CoV-2 viral infection causes the clinical condition COVID-19

• SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the betacoronavirus genus, which contains SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV

• Numerous hypotheses exist regarding the origin of SARS-CoV-2 are currently being tested

Literature Review

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a newly discovered member of the betacoronavirus genus that includes two other highly-infectious coronavirus (CoV) species, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Although it has been previously thought that the virus originated in bats, it is now believed that bats are simply carriers of the virus. Much study on the origins of the virus are currently being undertaken, with many hypotheses being tested. It is notable that the closest existing viruses to SARS-CoV-2 are bat CoV species, and previous knowledge from betacoronavirus outbreaks have been linked to other mammals being carriers of the virus. Estimates of transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 are much higher than that of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, resulting in global pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and disease, referred to as COVID-19.

Summary and Literature Review written by Rohin Gawdi 3/29/2020