Articles: coronavirus.
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Infect Disord Drug Targets · Apr 2009
ReviewDrug targets in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus and other coronavirus infections.
Coronaviruses are important human and animal pathogens of the order Nidovirales. Several new members were discovered following the emergence of SARS-CoV in human populations, including two human coronaviruses and several animal coronaviruses. ⋯ The high mortality of SARS, the identification of a natural reservoir, and the well-founded fear of provoking antibody-enhanced disease as a result of vaccination fueled the ongoing efforts in anti-coronavirus drug discovery. This review presents the results of current research.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Apr 2008
Human (non-severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus infections in hospitalised children in France.
This study has two objectives: to study the clinical symptoms associated with the detection of the four human coronaviruses (HCoVs), 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 types, in the respiratory specimens sampled from hospitalised children in France between September 2004 and May 2005; and to develop a multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay allowing for the simultaneous detection of the four HCoVs. ⋯ HCoV detection in hospitalised children without any other respiratory virus detection was associated with upper and a significant rate of lower respiratory tract illness. The four types of HCoVs were detected, and new types NL63 and HKU1 represented a substantial portion of detection. The multiplex RT-PCR enabled a sensitive one-time detection and the characterisation of all of the known HCoV types with the exception severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus.
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Rhinoviruses and coronaviruses cause the majority of common colds and play a part in more serious respiratory illnesses that lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Patients who are infants or elderly, have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or are immunosuppressed have increased frequency of rhinovirus-related respiratory complications. Newer diagnostic tests such as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) have greatly expanded our understanding of the importance of these respiratory viruses. Although there are no currently approved antiviral agents for clinical use, our increased understanding of the virus-host interaction should lead to new intervention strategies.
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Can J Infect Dis Med · Nov 2006
An Outbreak of Human Coronavirus OC43 Infection and Serological Cross-reactivity with SARS Coronavirus.
In summer 2003, a respiratory outbreak was investigated in British Columbia, during which nucleic acid tests and serology unexpectedly indicated reactivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). ⋯ These findings underscore the virulence of human CoV-OC43 in elderly populations and confirm that cross-reactivity to antibody against nucleocapsid proteins from these viruses must be considered when interpreting serological tests for SARS-CoV.
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Oct 2006
ReviewInfectious diseases emerging from Chinese wet-markets: zoonotic origins of severe respiratory viral infections.
In China, close contacts between humans and food animals have resulted in the transmission of many microbes from animals to humans. The two most notable infectious diseases in recent years are severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza. In this review, these two severe zoonotic viral infections transmitted by the respiratory route, with pandemic potential, are used as models to illustrate the role of Chinese wet-markets in their emergence, amplification and dissemination. ⋯ In Chinese wet-markets, unique epicenters for transmission of potential viral pathogens, new genes may be acquired or existing genes modified through various mechanisms such as genetic reassortment, recombination and mutation. The wet-markets, at closer proximity to humans, with high viral burden or strains of higher transmission efficiency, facilitate transmission of the viruses to humans.