冠状病毒基因组及其编码蛋白

冠状病毒宿主范围广泛 ,不同种动物(禽、火鸡、猪等 )分离株又有众多血清型 ,最重要的特征之一是具有高度的变异性 ,所以对冠状病毒的系统研究一直是个难点。对其中某些病原体 (如犬、猫冠状病毒等 )的研究也相对较少。但最近出现的严重急性呼吸系统综合征( SARS)病原。使人认识到冠状病毒不仅能给畜禽业带来重大的经济损失 ,也可能会威胁到人类自身 ,甚至带来非常严重的后果。到目前还不清楚 SARS病毒的真正起源。是早已存在 ,不为我们所认识 ,还是现有某种病毒的变异体 ?因此 ,有必要对该属病原体的一些特性进行了解。文章对动物冠状病毒编码蛋白的研究进展进行了概述 ,为更好地对 SARS病原体的特性、进化和演变进行研究提供借鉴和参考。

The Genome and Encoded Proteins of Coronavirus

A novel coronavirus was identified as the pathogen of human severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This is rather striking: none of the coronavirus (including human and animal resource) has caused so much outbreaks like SARS. Why this virus is so highly pathogenic? What makes it so distinguished from other members of coronavirus? Though SARS has successfully controlled over the world, origination of the pathogen remains an open question. And will the SARS be back again? No answer is available now. Nucleotide sequence and/or SARS antibody have detected in some wild animals in Southern China, such as palm civets, raccoon dog and ferret, ect. Also a SARS-like coronavirus has been isolated in palm civets, we still can not be sure if this SARS-like virus is the natural reservoir of the SARS pathogen. From SARS, we should know more about coronavirus-its genome, encoding-proteins and the relationship of SARS virus to the members of the coronavirus family.