Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): development of diagnostics and antivirals

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 May;1067(1):500-5. doi: 10.1196/annals.1354.072.

Abstract

The previously unknown coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) affected more than 8,000 persons worldwide and was responsible for more than 700 deaths during the first outbreak in 2002-2003. For reasons unknown, the SARS virus is less severe and the clinical progression a great deal milder in children younger than 12 years of age. In contrast, the mortality rate can exceed 50% for persons at or above the age of 60. As part of the Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals (SEPSDA), an immune phage-display library is being created from convalescent patients in a phagemid system for the selection of single-chain fragment variables (scFv) antibodies recognizing the SARS-CoV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Antiviral Agents / immunology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / immunology
  • Peptide Library
  • Serology
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / immunology
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / therapy*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / virology
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / genetics
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • Peptide Library