COVID-19 – A Pandemic by SARS-CoV-2

Harsh R Darji (J18IMT601)

Biology Assignment
Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
Marathwada Off-Campus, Jalna

Abstract – This abstract involves information regarding the previously made guidelines from World Organization of Animal
pandemic Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is caused by Health (OIE) and Food & Agriculture Organization of United
the virus named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Nations (FAO) giving it an official name as COVID-19 or
Coronavirus 2 which is abbreviated to SARS-CoV-2. This Coronavirus disease as per International Classification of Disease
abstract also gives an overview on structure & nomenclature of (ICD) as ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’ for virus, and ‘D’ for
the virus followed by epidemiology of this disease. disease.1,10,11

Index Terms – SARS-CoV-2, Viruses, Pandemic, Proteins, RNA III. NOMENCLATURE & STRUCTURE OF VIRUS
Sequence, Coronaviruses. The name “coronavirus” is derived from Latin Corona, meaning
crown or wreath, itself borrowing from Greek κορώνη korṓnē,
I. INTRODUCTION “garland, wreath”. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome related

T he novel deadly Corona virus disease (COVID-19) is spread

via the virus named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which belongs to the family of
Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the category of
Coronaviruses where they belong to realm of Riboviria of the
order Nidovirales with suborder as Cornidovirineae of the family
Coronaviruses. These viruses seem to have a history of epidemic of Coronaviridae & subfamily as Orthocoronavirinae and their
named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome by SARS-CoV in genus as Betacoronavirus. The virus has subgenus as
early 2000s starting from southern parts of China and Middle Sarbecovirus and species as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
East Respiratory Syndrome by MERS-CoV in 2012.1 related coronavirus.10,12–15
The virus which has caused current epidemic seems to have Structure of SARS-CoV-2 is Spike Protein S, Polyproteins E,
originated from Wuhan, Hubei Province of China during the first Nucleoproteins, Membrane protein M, which are 3-chymotrypsin
half of December,2019.2 like protease, papain like protease, helicase, glycoprotein which
makes up the envelope in which there is single piece
II. EPIDEMIOLOGY nonsegmented RNA genome which weighs between the range of
During the second half of December 2019, people from Wuhan, 6000 kilodaltons to 8000 kilodaltons and approximately diameter
Hubei province in China were diagnosed with pneumonia from size ranging from 50 nm to 200 nm.13,16–18
unknown origination which was further reported by many people
from that province over a course of a month. A common trend
observed between all these patients was linked to the wholesale
market of seafood and wet animals.3–5
Further by the end of January 2020, the number of cases for
pneumonia increased above 550 across 25 different cities and
districts of China.2,6,7
This new disease was found out to have from bat origin as it was
observed that approximately 94% of genome nucleotide
sequence was similar to that of Bat CoV RaTG13 and
approximately 90% identical to Bat CoV ZC45 viruses.8
Over the course of time, several cases were reported across
various countries such as UAE, Italy, Thailand, USA, India,
Canada, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Philippines, Germany, Vietnam.2,7,9
World Health Organization (WHO) declared on 30 th January,
2020 as a public health emergency and India reporting its first Figure 1- Schematic Diagram of Coronavirus with Spike protein,
case on the same day where the patient belonged to Thissur, Membrane protein, Envelope protein, Non-segmented RNA genome.
Kerala, India and had a travel history to Wuhan. The virus was Coronavirus virion structure.15
called as Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) within the family of
Coronaviridae which was further changed globally to Severe IV. INFECTION & SYMPTOMS
Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by
The Spike glycoprotein which are present on the surface of
Coronaviridae Study Group (CSG) of International Committee of
coronaviruses are responsible for entry of virus in to the host
Taxonomy of Viruses on 11th February 2020 where the WHO
environment. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV show exception when
also announced it as a pandemic on the same day as per the
compared to the other viruses with respect to entry in to the host
1
environment as they recognize and bind to the exopeptidase. 2. Rothan, H. A. & Byrareddy, S. N. The epidemiology and
When the virus attaches to the host cells, the Human Airway pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Trypsin-like Protease (HAT), Cathepsins & Trans-membrane outbreak. Journal of Autoimmunity 102433 (2020).
Protease Serine 2 (TMPRSS 2) which help in splitting the spike doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102433
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material. SARS-CoV-2 used Angiotensin – Converting Enzyme confirmed positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in
2 (ACE2) as the employed key receptor. The conformational Wuhan, China: A retrospective single center analysis.
changes of the surface proteins enable fusion with the membrane Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2020).
by endosomal pathway which then leads to transfer of RNA into doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101606
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The symptoms shown by any person who is infected by SARS- 0332-0
CoV-2 virus shows symptoms over a period of 3 days to 14 days. 7. Chen, N. et al. Epidemiological and clinical
The symptoms which are usually seen are majorly divided in two characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus
sub-categories which are Systemic Disorders and Respiratory pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. The
Disorders. The systemic disorders include symptoms like Fever, Lancet 395, 507–513 (2020).
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CT done of the patient infected by the virus is seen to possess International Journal of Infectious Diseases 91, 264–266
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26
10. Coronaviridae Study Group of the International
Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The species Severe
V. TRANSMISSION & CONTROL acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus:
The transmission occurs as soon as a person is infected with the classifying 2019-nCoV and naming it SARS-CoV-2.
virus as the virus creates multiple copies inside the host Nature microbiology 5, 536–544 (2020).
environment. The primary mode of transport is via respiratory 11. Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the
droplets formed when a person sneezes or coughs. It can spread virus that causes it. Available at:
via direct contact with the infected person or indirect contact via https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-
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