SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) is the zoonotic, positive-sense single-stranded RNA coronavirus that caused the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002–2003. Transmitted to humans from animal reservoirs, it is a member of the family Coronaviridae and displays the distinctiv…
SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) is the zoonotic, positive-sense single-stranded RNA coronavirus that caused the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002–2003. Transmitted to humans from animal reservoirs, it is a member of the family Coronaviridae and displays the distinctive crown-like fringe of spike (S) glycoprotein projections common to coronaviruses. SARS-CoV is historically significant both as the first coronavirus to cause a major international epidemic of severe respiratory disease and as a close phylogenetic relative of SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19, making it an important reference point for comparative virology. Study of SARS-CoV centres on its genome organization, evolutionary relationships to other human and animal coronaviruses, the structure and function of its spike protein in mediating host-cell entry, and its mechanisms of pathogenesis. Comparative analyses of spike glycoprotein-coding gene sequences illuminate how SARS-CoV relates to SARS-CoV-2 and to animal coronaviruses, informing understanding of cross-species transmission and emergence. Research published under this topic examines viral evolution, transmissibility, immune responses, neutralizing antibodies, candidate therapeutics, and the broader lessons that the original SARS epidemic offers for surveillance of and preparedness against emerging coronavirus threats.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 24 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on SARS-CoV, linking to each citing work.