A Genomic Perspective on the Origin and Emergence of SARS-CoV-2

Yong-Zhen Zhang; Edward C Holmes

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.03.035

A Genomic Perspective on the Origin and Emergence of SARS-CoV-2

Cell. 2020 Apr 16;181(2):223-227. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.03.035. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Authors

Yong-Zhen Zhang¹, Edward C Holmes²

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
² Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: edward.holmes@sydney.edu.au.

Abstract

The ongoing pandemic of a new human coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has generated enormous global concern. We and others in China were involved in the initial genome sequencing of the virus. Herein, we describe what genomic data reveal about the emergence SARS-CoV-2 and discuss the gaps in our understanding of its origins.

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Wild
Betacoronavirus / genetics*
COVID-19
China
Chiroptera / virology*
Coronavirus Infections / transmission
Coronavirus Infections / virology*
DNA, Environmental
Disease Reservoirs / virology*
Genome, Viral
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
SARS-CoV-2
Sequence Analysis, RNA
Zoonoses / virology

Substances

DNA, Environmental