Coronavirus host divergence and novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak
Kadir Yeşilbağ, Gizem Aytoğu
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus, nCoV-2019) outbreak started in November 2019 in China has created a public health concern all around the world. Since infected patients transported out of China, the outbreak status was quickly changed into pandemic. Comparison of available genome sequences of the virus strains enlightened most questions as the cell receptors (ACE2) responsible for the virus tropism which determines possible organs and tissues to be affected by the virus as well as possible involvement of the age groups and host diversity. SARS-Cov-2, new member of Coronaviridae shares some clinical and epidemiological aspects similar to previous high pathogenic human coronavirus, SARS-CoV, existed in 2002. The most outstanding property of SARS-CoV-2 is high transmission rate (reproduction number, R0=˷3.58) between suspected and susceptible people. While bats are pointed as the original host and pangolins as an intermediate host, possibility of other species contribution is still unknown. According to recent data, reptiles i.e. snakes seem to be out of the group for possible intermediate hosts. Also there is no data supporting involvement of domestic animals even pets or food producing in the infection spectrum. This review summarizes the key findings of ongoing pandemia since the day disease existed. Molecular divergences now show that disease agent evolved into two types (S and L). Mutations and natural selections besides recombination will still continue to be the common feature of coronaviruses. Though implementation of common global measures and treatments other than rapid sharing the information will contribute prevention efforts and reducing the number of losses.