Characterization of a novel coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome. (Research Articles)

Several hundred cases of severe atypical pneumonia of unknown etiology were reported in Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China beginning in late 2002. After similar cases were detected [...]
In March 2003, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was discovered in association with cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The sequence of the complete genome of SARS-CoV was determined, and the initial characterization of the viral genome is presented in this report. The genome of SARS-CoV is 29,727 nucleotides in length and has 11 open reading frames, and its genome organization is similar to that of other coronaviruses. Phylogenetic analyses and sequence comparisons showed that SARS-CoV is not closely related to any of the previously characterized coronaviruses.