Coronaviridae

Abstract

The family Coronavirtdae comprises a monogeneric group of 11 viruses which infect vertebrates. The main characteristics of the member viruses are: (i) Morphological: Enveloped pleomorphic particles typically 100 nm in diameter (range 60–220 nm), bearing about 20 nm long club-shaped surface projections, (ii) Structural: A single-stranded infectious molecule of genomic RNA of about (5–7) × 10⁶ molecular weight. A phosphorylated nucleocapsid protein [mol.wt. (50–60) × 10³] complexed with the genome as a helical ribonucleoprotein; a surface (peplomer) protein, associated with one or two glycosylated polypeptides [mol.wt. (90–180) × 10³]; a transmembrane (matrix) protein, associated with one polypeptide which may be glycosylated to different degrees [mol.wt. (20–35) × 10³]. (iii) Replicative: Production in infected cells of multiple 3’ coterminal sub genomic mRNAs extending for different lengths in the 5’ direction. Virions bud intracytoplasmically. (iv) Antigenic: 3 major antigens, each corresponding to one class of virion protein, (v) Biological: Predominantly restricted to infection of natural vertebrate hosts by horizontal transmission via the fecal/oral route. Responsible mainly for respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders.

Completion of the Sequence of the Genome of the Coronavirus Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus

“…Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the type species of the family Coronaviridae (Siddell et al, 1983a). Coronaviruses are enveloped, pleomorphic particles with a distinctive 'corona' of club-shaped surface projections, and a large single-stranded RNA genome of positive polarity (Siddell et al, 1983b).…”

Induction of Demyelination by a Temperature-sensitive Mutant of the Coronavirus MHV-A59 is Associated with Restriction of Viral Replication in the Brain

“…Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) belongs to a group of enveloped animal RNA viruses, the Coronaviridae (Tyrrell et al, 1978: Siddell et al, 1983. In rodents of the appropriate age and genetic background, intracerebral inoculation of a large dose of wild-type MHV causes an acute lethal disease (Knobler et al, 1981(Knobler et al, , 1982Wege et al, 1982).…”

Field Isolates of Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus Differ at the Molecular Level from the Miller and Purdue Virulent and Attenuated Strains and from Porcine Respiratory Coronaviruses.

“…TGEV belongs to the family Coronaviridae. It is a pleomorphic enveloped virus with a large, single-stranded, positive RNA genome [40,42].…”