Abstract

The global pandemic known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This review article presents the taxonomy of SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses, which have been classified as the seventh known human pathogenic coronavirus. The etiology of COVID-19 is also briefly discussed. Selected characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and HCoV-NL63 are compared in the article. The angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) has been identified as the receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 viral entry. ACE2 is well-known as a counter-regulator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) and plays a key role in the cardiovascular system. In the therapy of patients with COVID-19, there has been a concern about the use of RAAS inhibitors. As a result, it is hypothesized that ACE inhibitors do not directly affect ACE2 activity in clinical use. Coronaviruses are zoonotic RNA viruses. Identification of the primary causative agent of the SARS-CoV-2 is essential. Sequencing showed that the genome of the Bat CoVRaTG13 virus found in bats matches the genome of up to (96.2%) of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Sufficient knowledge of the molecular and biological mechanisms along with reliable information related to SARS-CoV-2 gives hope for a quick solution to epidemiological questions and therapeutic processes.

Highlights

  • Received: 4 December 2020The first cases of an acute respiratory syndrome of unknown etiology were reported at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020 in Wuhan, China

  • The new virus is genetically related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) virus, which caused severe to lethal pneumonia in 2003 in China and Canada [1,2]

  • Therapy in patients with COVID-19 has raised concerns about the use of Renin–angiotensin–aldosteron system (RAAS) inhibitors, which may affect the occurrence of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the cell membrane

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Summary

Introduction

The first cases of an acute respiratory syndrome of unknown etiology were reported at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020 in Wuhan, China. A new coronavirus was the causative agent of a very rapidly spreading outbreak of respiratory disease and potentially severe pneumonia. The new virus is genetically related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) virus, which caused severe to lethal pneumonia in 2003 in China and Canada [1,2]. The disease caused by the virus was officially named by the WHO as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On 11 February, 2020, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) announced the name of the new virus as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The new virus has been classified as the seventh known human pathogenic coronavirus [3,4].

Taxonomy of Human Coronaviruses
Etiology of the Disease
Nonstructural Proteins
Structural Proteins
Spike Protein and the Function of TMPRSS2
RAAS Complex
Animal
SARS-CoV-2 and and
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS-CoV and Its Natural Hosts
HCoV-NL63 and Its Natural Hosts
Findings
Conclusions

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