Coronaviruses: Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Scientists have known of the human coronavirus since the 1960s. But only rarely has it garnered wider recognition over the past half a century. | |||
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses known for containing strains that cause potentially deadly diseases in mammals and birds. In humans they're typically spread via airborne droplets of fluid produced by infected individuals. Scientists have known of the human coronavirus since the 1960s. But only rarely has it garnered wider recognition over the past half a century. | |||
The International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses has approved the naming of more than 40 coronaviruses. The vast majority of these infect animals. The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the number of identified coronaviruses that infect humans to seven. | The International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses has approved the naming of more than 40 coronaviruses. The vast majority of these infect animals. The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the number of identified coronaviruses that infect humans to seven. | ||
* Four of these are community acquired and have circulated through the human population continually for a very long time. The four community-acquired human coronaviruses typically cause mild cold-like symptoms in humans. Two of them, hCoV-OC43 and hCoV-229E, have been responsible for between 10% and 30% of all common colds since about the 1960s. | |||
Four of these are community acquired and have circulated through the human population continually for a very long time. The four community-acquired human coronaviruses typically cause mild cold-like symptoms in humans. Two of them, hCoV-OC43 and hCoV-229E, have been responsible for between 10% and 30% of all common colds since about the 1960s. | * Three of these ([[SARS Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome|SARS]]-CoV, MERS-CoV and [[Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)|SARS-CoV-2]]) appear to have jumped to the human population more recently. Worryingly, these three result in a high mortality rate. | ||
Three of these (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) appear to have jumped to the human population more recently. Worryingly, these three result in a high mortality rate. | |||
All coronaviruses are zoonotic. They start off in animals and can then, following mutation, recombination and adaptation, be passed on to humans<ref>The conversation [https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-the-coronavirus-family-including-one-pandemic-we-might-have-missed-134556 A brief history of the coronavirus family – including one pandemic we might have missed] Available from:https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-the-coronavirus-family-including-one-pandemic-we-might-have-missed-134556 (last accessed 6.12.2020)</ref>. | All coronaviruses are zoonotic. They start off in animals and can then, following mutation, recombination and adaptation, be passed on to humans<ref>The conversation [https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-the-coronavirus-family-including-one-pandemic-we-might-have-missed-134556 A brief history of the coronavirus family – including one pandemic we might have missed] Available from:https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-the-coronavirus-family-including-one-pandemic-we-might-have-missed-134556 (last accessed 6.12.2020)</ref>. | ||
== | == Name Origin == | ||
First described in detail in the 1960s, the coronavirus gets its name from a distinctive corona or 'crown' of sugary-proteins that projects from the envelope surrounding the particle. | |||
* Encoding the virus's make-up is the longest genome of any RNA-based virus – a single strand of nucleic acid roughly 26,000 to 32,000 bases long. | |||
There are four known genuses in the family | |||
* Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus: only infect mammals, including bats, pigs, cats, and humans | |||
* Gammacoronavirus: mostly infects birds such as poultry | |||
* Deltacoronavirus: can infect both birds and mammals<ref>Scient Alert [https://www.sciencealert.com/coronavirus Corona viruses] Available from:https://www.sciencealert.com/coronavirus (last accessed 6.12.2020)</ref>. | |||
== Sub Heading 3 == | == Sub Heading 3 == | ||
Revision as of 07:26, 6 December 2020
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Original Editor - Lucinda hampton
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses known for containing strains that cause potentially deadly diseases in mammals and birds. In humans they're typically spread via airborne droplets of fluid produced by infected individuals. Scientists have known of the human coronavirus since the 1960s. But only rarely has it garnered wider recognition over the past half a century.
The International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses has approved the naming of more than 40 coronaviruses. The vast majority of these infect animals. The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the number of identified coronaviruses that infect humans to seven.
- Four of these are community acquired and have circulated through the human population continually for a very long time. The four community-acquired human coronaviruses typically cause mild cold-like symptoms in humans. Two of them, hCoV-OC43 and hCoV-229E, have been responsible for between 10% and 30% of all common colds since about the 1960s.
- Three of these (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) appear to have jumped to the human population more recently. Worryingly, these three result in a high mortality rate.
All coronaviruses are zoonotic. They start off in animals and can then, following mutation, recombination and adaptation, be passed on to humans[1].
Name Origin[edit | edit source]
First described in detail in the 1960s, the coronavirus gets its name from a distinctive corona or 'crown' of sugary-proteins that projects from the envelope surrounding the particle.
- Encoding the virus's make-up is the longest genome of any RNA-based virus – a single strand of nucleic acid roughly 26,000 to 32,000 bases long.
There are four known genuses in the family
- Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus: only infect mammals, including bats, pigs, cats, and humans
- Gammacoronavirus: mostly infects birds such as poultry
- Deltacoronavirus: can infect both birds and mammals[2].
Sub Heading 3[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The conversation A brief history of the coronavirus family – including one pandemic we might have missed Available from:https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-the-coronavirus-family-including-one-pandemic-we-might-have-missed-134556 (last accessed 6.12.2020)
- ↑ Scient Alert Corona viruses Available from:https://www.sciencealert.com/coronavirus (last accessed 6.12.2020)
