What is SARS Virus?
SARS coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV, is a potent virus causing acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SARS coronavirus is a part of the family of enveloped coronaviruses. There are different types of Coronaviruses which are single-stranded, enveloped and positive-sense RNA viruses and it belongs to a family of Coronavirinae. Several other coronaviruses form the seven human coronaviruses such as HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, SARS-CoV, and HCoV-HKU1, people have been gradually been able to know about these viruses too. Learn all about Coronavirus here.
What is SARS Virus and its Structure? Are SARS and Coronavirus Related?
This Coronaviruses has affected the world and how! It can cause a range of symptoms though many people confuse people as the symptoms are similar to the common cold but it can lead to many respiratory illnesses. They may be the cause of respiratory and enteric diseases as noted in mammals and birds. Some of the Coronavirus symptoms are as follows sneezing, rhinorrhea, dry cough, nasal obstruction, and even bronchitis in some cases. Did you know that primarily there are three types of coronaviruses? Alpha, beta, and gamma. It was first noted in 2012, where the novel coronavirus leads to causing progressive acute respiratory infection in two men from UAE.
SARS-CoV is a virus strain that caused atypical pneumonia that affected a major part of Asia, Europe, and North America during 2002-2003. SARS-CoV infection can lead to several conditions such as cilia damage, bronchial epithelial cell peeling, squamous cell aplasia fibrotic lung disease, and so on.
What is SARS Virus Structure?
SARS-CoV has a similar protein structure with three known strains of coronaviruses, membrane protein (M), an envelope protein (E) and nucleocapsid protein (N). The Coronavirus N protein forms coronavirus RNA synthesis and has RNA chaperone activity that leads to template switch.
All About Coronavirus
The novel coronavirus pushes into a cell and it makes it into a virus making machine. Yes, it is potent enough to cause an infection leading to respiratory disease. The building of the virus kind of impacts the way the virus turns out. The virus gets its name from its spikes which resembles a crown. Virologists studying the SARS and MERS makes it easier to enter the body. It has sugar like covering which kind of makes it difficult for the immune system of the human body to recognize it and hence avoid the entry.
The shape and the structure of the virus kind of lead into its success. The spikes stick to a protein known as ACE2, which can be spotted on the surf cells. The spike contours of SARS-CoV-2’s make it stick more strongly than the ACE2 and SARS-classic did.
The Coronavirus spikes are the combination of two connected halves, the spike is only activated activates when the halves are separated and it makes the virus easier to enter a host cell. In a SARS-classic, this separation of the two halves is difficult. But in SARS-CoV-2, an enzyme called furin cuts the connecting bridge into two halves, found in many tissues.
Most respiratory viruses affect the upper or lower airways. SARS-CoV-2 affects both upper and lower airways as it can impact the furin. This explains why the virus affects people before the symptoms even show up. This factor explains why the virus is so difficult to contain and control. It starts the upper airways, before us having any clue about it and then finally leads to more severe symptoms.
The new virus had its origin from animals but it gradually started affecting humans. The SARS-CoV-2 was first found in a bat, then found to affect the other species. There was a report that SARS-CoV-2 was found in pangolins, but it resembled the strain and they are dissimilar.
How Does the Novel Coronavirus be Similar to SARS?
COVID-19 and SARS are similar in many ways, but they have some differences as well,
- Both the virus es originated from bats and went on to affect humans.
- Both viruses were spread by respiratory droplets, such as coughs or sneezes or by contaminated surfaces.
- Both the virus is stable in the air and various surfaces.
- Both the virus can say to affect humans severely especially may cause chronic respiratory issues.
- Both the virus can cause more chronic issues as the disease progresses.
- Both the virus affect the vulnerable group more, older adults who have underlying health conditions.
- Both have no specific treatments as yet.
COVID-19 and SARS, both are caused by coronaviruses. While there are similarities there are some factors that separate them such as,
- COVID-19 can cause mild to severe symptoms, while SARS cases were very severe.
- COVID-19 can spread easily. But SARS not so much and it has been largely contained with public health measures. COVID-19 is difficult to control as very often its symptoms go undetected and then it can spread easily.
It is therefore important to know when and how to use face masks to protect from Coronavirus? Using face masks and washing hands frequently are the only known ways to prevent the COVID-19 virus.
