Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
Department of Microbiology and Pharmacy, Abasyn University, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 8;18(4):1626. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041626.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a great threat to public health, being a causative pathogen of a deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It has spread to more than 200 countries and infected millions of individuals globally. Although SARS-CoV-2 has structural/genomic similarities with the previously reported SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the specific mutations in its genome make it a novel virus. Available therapeutic strategies failed to control this virus. Despite strict standard operating procedures (SOPs), SARS-CoV-2 has spread globally and it is mutating gradually as well. Diligent efforts, special care, and awareness are needed to reduce transmission among susceptible masses particularly elder people, children, and health care workers. In this review, we highlighted the basic genome organization and structure of SARS-CoV-2. Its transmission dynamics, symptoms, and associated risk factors are discussed. This review also presents the latest mutations identified in its genome, the potential therapeutic options being used, and a brief explanation of vaccine development efforts against COVID-19. The effort will not only help readers to understand the deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus but also provide updated information to researchers for their research work.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）对公共卫生构成巨大威胁，是一种致命的冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的病原体。它已传播到 200 多个国家，感染了全球数百万人。尽管 SARS-CoV-2 在结构/基因组上与以前报告的 SARS-CoV 和 MERS-CoV 有相似之处，但它基因组中的特定突变使其成为一种新型病毒。现有的治疗策略未能控制这种病毒。尽管有严格的标准操作程序（SOP），但 SARS-CoV-2 已在全球范围内传播，并且其也在逐渐发生变异。需要勤奋努力、特别护理和提高认识，以减少易感人群（特别是老年人、儿童和卫生保健工作者）之间的传播。在这篇综述中，我们强调了 SARS-CoV-2 的基本基因组组织和结构。讨论了其传播动态、症状和相关危险因素。本文还介绍了其基因组中最新发现的突变、正在使用的潜在治疗选择以及 COVID-19 疫苗开发工作的简要说明。这一努力不仅有助于读者了解致命的 SARS-CoV-2 病毒，还为研究人员的研究工作提供了最新信息。
