Studies on viral pneumonia related to novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV: a literature review

APMIS. 2020 Jun;128(6):423-432. doi: 10.1111/apm.13047.

Abstract

Coronaviruses are a class of RNA viruses that can cause respiratory and intestinal infections in animals and humans. SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 [2019-nCoV]) belong to the family Coronaviridae and the genus Betacoronavirus. At present, the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 is getting deeper and deeper. In order to better prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2, this article compares the infectivity, pathogenicity, and related clinical characteristics of the three human pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV to help us further understand the pathogenic characteristics of novel coronaviruses.

Keywords: MERS-CoV; SARS-CoV; SARS-CoV-2; clinical features; pneumonia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Betacoronavirus / genetics
  • Betacoronavirus / metabolism
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Serotherapy
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive / methods
  • Infectious Disease Incubation Period
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / genetics
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Pandemics*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Protein Binding
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / mortality
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / therapy
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / genetics
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / metabolism
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2