Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in 2002 to 2003 in southern China. The origin of its etiological agent, the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), remains elusive. Here we report that species of bats are a natural host of coronaviruses closely related to those responsible for the SARS outbreak. These viruses, termed SARS-like coronaviruses (SL-CoVs), display greater genetic variation than SARS-CoV isolated from humans or from civets. The human and civet isolates of SARS-CoV nestle phylogenetically within the spectrum of SL-CoVs, indicating that the virus responsible for the SARS outbreak was a member of this coronavirus group.

Keywords

CoronavirusOutbreakVirologySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)BiologyNidoviralesSars virusCoronaviridaeBetacoronavirusNatural reservoirSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirusCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndromeVirusMedicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)Disease

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Year
2005
Type
article
Volume
310
Issue
5748
Pages
676-679
Citations
2616
Access
Closed

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Cite This

Wendong Li, Zheng‐Li Shi, Meng Yu et al. (2005). Bats Are Natural Reservoirs of SARS-Like Coronaviruses. Science , 310 (5748) , 676-679. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1118391

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DOI
10.1126/science.1118391