Coronaviruses: The Most Dangerous Pathogen of Present Era

  • Rajendran R Deputy Director, National Centre for Disease Control, Government of India, Calicut, Kerala, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2080-9723
  • Sheela Devi D Former Head, Department of Zoology, MM NSS College, Kottayam, Kollam, Kerala, India.
  • Anusree SB Research Assistant, National Centre for Disease Control, Government of India, Calicut, Kerala, India.
  • Regu K Additional Director, National Centre for Disease Control, Government of India, Calicut, Kerala, India.
  • SN Sharma Consultant, National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India, 22 Sham Nath Marg, Delhi, India.
Keywords: CoV, SARS, COVID-19, Genome Variation

Abstract

Coronaviruses are the major group of viruses belonging to the Order Nidovirales. Four families- Coronoviridae, Arteriviridae, Mesoniviridae, and Roviviridae are included in this Order. All CoVs are pleomorphic RNA viruses characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface. These viruses have unusually large RNA genome, with a unique replication strategy. CoVs were not considered as highly pathogenic for humans until the emergence of SARS-CoV in 2002-03 in China. The emergence of another highly pathogenic CoV, Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) in the Middle East Countries confirmed the occurrence of highly pathogenic human viruses among the Coronaviruses. In this article we provide a brief introduction to coronaviruses, mode of action, pathogenesis, current situation, prevention and control of COVID-19.

How to cite this article:
Rajendran R, Sheela Devi D, Anusree SB, Regu K, Sharma SN. Coronaviruses: The Most Dangerous Pathog, en of Present Era. J Commun Dis 2020; 52(4): 17-28.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202036

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Published
2020-12-31