Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
In 2003, SARS caught the attention of the world’s media, highlighting the importance of emerging infectious diseases. Although the disease was contained, it still found its way around the world, killing more than 700 people in 11 countries. The origin of the virus is still unknown.
University of Hong Kong
The scientific response to the SARS outbreak was unprecedented. The World Health Organization (WHO) pulled together international teams of virologists, and within a month of the first global health alerts, the SARS pathogen was found to be a previously unidentified strain of coronavirus. A prototype diagnostic test for SARS was made available shortly afterwards.
The SARS coronavirus was identified by amplifying portions of its genetic material using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and examining the resulting sequences.
Coronaviruses have a crown-like ‘corona’ halo of protein spikes that help them to latch on to their host cells. While many human coronaviruses cause nothing nastier than common colds, some animal coronaviruses cause more serious diseases.
The complete genome sequence of the SARS virus was published in May 2003. Analysis of this sequence indicates that the SARS coronavirus is unique. It has evolved independently from other known coronaviruses, probably within an animal host over a long period of time.
Finding the origin of the SARS virus is crucial for controlling re-emergence of the disease. A 2005 study indicated that it may have originated in bats. A molecular diagnostic test is being developed to detect the SARS infection in various animal species.
See how DNA evidence was used to identify the source of SARS: http://www.koshlandscience.org/exhibitdna/inf01.jsp