Author Topic: Britain publishes genome sequence of coronavirus  (Read 362 times)

J Mercado Jr

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Britain publishes genome sequence of coronavirus
« on: November 15, 2012, 11:37:31 PM »
Britain's Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Tuesday published the completed genome sequence from the British case of novel coronavirus, which was diagnosed this September and got much attention because it is close to the SARS virus.

The publication of the full genome sequence will enable scientists to see how closely the British case is linked to the first case of this novel coronavirus, which was diagnosed in a patient from Saudi Arabia in June, and who subsequently died.

The emergence of this new virus had gotten much attention all over the world, because it belongs to the genus of coronavirus, which also includes the SARS virus that caused panic in 2003. The World Health Organization has confirmed the new virus is not SARS.

Analysis of the genome indicates that the closest relative to this new coronavirus was a bat virus identified in 2008 in the Netherlands. The variation in the genomic sequences of the first two cases, coupled with the three month gap of time, indicate there are probably independent sources of infection.

Prof. Maria Zambon, director of HPA's reference microbiology services, said understanding more about the virus could help determine its origin as well as develop strategies for treatment and prevention, such as vaccine development, should further cases emerge.

"There have been huge technological leaps since viruses such as H5N1 and SARS were discovered 10 to 15 years ago. The speed of response is a testament to the lessons learnt by the scientific community after SARS," Prof. Zambon added. - PNA

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