• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.731-741
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• 2020

코로나바이러스감염증-19(COVID-19)는 SARS-CoV-2에 의해 발병된다. 지금까지 인간에게 감염되는 7 가지 종류의 코로나 바이러스가 보고되었다. 그 중, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, 그리고 HCoV-HKU1 등 4종류의 코로나바이러스는 감기와 같은 단순 호흡기 질환을 유발한다고 보고되었다. 반면, SARS-CoV는 2002년에, MERS-CoV는 2012년에 각각 대유행을 일으킨 바 있다. 가장 최근에는 2019년 12월 중국 우한에서 처음 보고된 SARS-CoV-2가 전세계적인 대유행의 원인이 되고 있다. 이러한 SARS-CoV-2를 진단하고, 치료하고, 예방하기 위해서는 신속 정확한 진단키트, 치료제, 그리고 안전한 백신의 개발의 필수적으로 요구된다. 이러한 강력한 도구들을 개발하기 위해서는 SARS-CoV-2의 표현형, 유전자형, 그리고 생활주기 등의 연구가 선행되어야 한다. SARS-CoV-2의 진단기술은 현재 크게 두가지의 큰 분야인 분자진단과 면역혈청학적 진단으로 구분할 수 있다. 분자진단의 경우 SARS-CoV-2의 유전체를 대상으로 하며, 면역혈청학적 진단은 SARS-CoV-2의 항원 단백질 혹은 SARS-CoV-2에 대한 항체를 대상으로 한다. 본 총설에서는 SARS-CoV-2의 표현형, 유전체 구조, 그리고 유전자 발현에 대해서 정리하고, SARS-CoV-2에 대한 다양한 진단 기술 등에 대한 기초지식을 제공하고자 한다.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.12.1-12.11
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• 2021

Background: Bats have been considered natural reservoirs for several pathogenic human coronaviruses (CoVs) in the last two decades. Recently, a bat CoV was detected in the Republic of Korea; its entire genome was sequenced and reported to be genetically similar to that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV). Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the genetic sequences of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and the two Korean bat CoV strains 16BO133 and B15-21, to estimate the likelihood of an interaction between the Korean bat CoVs and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Methods: The phylogenetic analysis was conducted with the maximum-likelihood (ML) method using MEGA 7 software. The Korean bat CoVs receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein was analyzed by comparative homology modeling using the SWISS-MODEL server. The binding energies of the complexes were calculated using PRODIGY and MM/GBGA. Results: Phylogenetic analyses of the entire RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, spike regions, and the complete genome revealed that the Korean CoVs, along with SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, belong to the subgenus Sarbecovirus, within BetaCoVs. However, the two Korean CoVs were distinct from SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, the spike gene of the Korean CoVs, which is involved in host infection, differed from that of SARS-CoV-2, showing only 66.8%-67.0% nucleotide homology and presented deletions within the RBD, particularly within regions critical for cross-species transmission and that mediate interaction with ACE2. Binding free energy calculation revealed that the binding affinity of Korean bat CoV RBD to hACE2 was drastically lower than that of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: These results suggest that Korean bat CoVs are unlikely to bind to the human ACE2 receptor.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.123-130
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• 2021

Objectives: Control methods against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) aerosols have been introduced. Airborne spreading theories for SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed in this study. Methods: Control methods for airborne microorganisms were discussed. Studies on theoretical estimations for airborne spreading of SARS-CoV-2 were presented and analyzed. Analytic calculations were conducted for explaining control techniques for airborne microorganisms. Results: Control methods for SARS-CoV-2 aerosols can include physical or biological procedures. Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols and massive clustering infection cases of COVID-19 support the airborne spreading theories of SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary to consider the disadvantages of control methods for airborne microorganisms. Conclusions: A study on control methods against bioaerosols is necessary to prevent the spreading of viruses. Airborne spreading theories of SARS-CoV-2 were supported by the current evidence, but further studies are needed to confirm these theories.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.316-321
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• 2022

Since 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly, infecting millions of people worldwide. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic owing to the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2, which created an unprecedented burden on the global healthcare system. In this context, there are increasing concerns regarding co-infections with other respiratory viruses, such as the influenza virus. In this study, clinical data of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses were compared with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 alone. The hematology and blood biochemistry results of 178 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 , who were tested on admission, were retrospectively reviewed. In patients with SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus co-infection, C-reactive protein levels were elevated on admission, whereas lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin clotting time, and bilirubin values were all within the normal range. Moreover, patients with SARS-CoV-2 and human bocavirus co-infection had low LDH and high bilirubin levels on admission. These findings reveal the clinical features of respiratory virus and SARS-CoV-2 co-infections and support the development of appropriate approaches for treating patients with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory virus co-infections.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.48.1-48.10
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encodes small envelope protein (E) that plays a major role in viral assembly, release, pathogenesis, and host inflammation. Previous studies demonstrated that pyrazine ring containing amiloride analogs inhibit this protein in different types of coronavirus including SARS-CoV-1 small envelope protein E (SARS-CoV-1 E). SARS-CoV-1 E has 93.42% sequence identity with SARS-CoV-2 E and shared a conserved domain NS3/small envelope protein (NS3_envE). Amiloride analog hexamethylene amiloride (HMA) can inhibit SARS-CoV-1 E. Therefore, we performed molecular docking and dynamics simulations to explore whether amiloride analogs are effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 E. To do so, SARS-CoV-1 E and SARS-CoV-2 E proteins were taken as receptors while HMA and 3-amino-5-(azepan-1-yl)-N-(diaminomethylidene)-6-pyrimidin-5-ylpyrazine-2-carboxamide (3A5NP2C) were selected as ligands. Molecular docking simulation showed higher binding affinity scores of HMA and 3A5NP2C for SARS-CoV-2 E than SARS-CoV-1 E. Moreover, HMA and 3A5NP2C engaged more amino acids in SARS-CoV-2 E. Molecular dynamics simulation for 1 ㎲ (1,000 ns) revealed that these ligands could alter the native structure of the proteins and their flexibility. Our study suggests that suitable amiloride analogs might yield a prospective drug against coronavirus disease 2019.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제63권4호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2020

A cluster of severe pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan City, Hubei province in China emerged in December 2019. A novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was isolated from lower respiratory tract sample as the causative agent. The current outbreak of infections with SARS-CoV-2 is termed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). COVID-19 rapidly spread into at least 114 countries and killed more than 4,000 people by March 11 2020. WHO officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. There have been 2 novel coronavirus outbreaks in the past 2 decades. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003 caused by SARS-CoV had a case fatality rate of around 10% (8,098 confirmed cases and 774 deaths), while Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) caused by MERS-CoV killed 861 people out of a total 2,502 confirmed cases between 2012 and 2019. The purpose of this review is to summarize known-to-date information about SARS-CoV-2, transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and clinical features.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.199-207
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• 2023

Post-COVID-19 시대에 다가올 전염병의 위협에 대비하기 위해 인간, 동물, 환경의 건강이 하나라는 One-health 개념에 기반한 연구가 필수적이다. 현재 인간의 SARS-CoV-2의 높은 감염률과 바이러스 부하로 인해 종을 뛰어넘는 감염이 확인되고 있다. 대표적으로 사람에서 밍크로의 전파 가능성이 확인되었고, 밀접 접촉 중에 사람에서 고양이로 전파가 가능할 것으로 추정되고 있다. 현재까지의 자료를 통해 가축류, 가금류에서의 감염 가능성이 낮은 것으로 보여지나 새로운 변이로 인해 감염이 확립된다면 인간의 식량 안보, 경제, 무역 등 다양한 분야에 파급 효과가 클 것으로 예측된다. 또한 SARS-CoV-2의 풍토화 전망과 반려동물로의 접근성이 높다는 점 등이 우려되는 상황이다. 바이러스의 진화는 동물 숙주에서 발생할 가능성이 높고, 다른 종에서 SARS-CoV-2가 확립되면 인간 집단에 바이러스가 다시 출현할 수 있는 중간 숙주 역할을 할 수도 있기 때문이다. SARS-CoV-2의 동물 감염에 대한 연구 데이터를 지속적으로 축적하여 빠른 대응이 필요하다고 생각된다. 또한 동물 감염에 대한 연구는 SARS-CoV-2 백신 및 치료제 연구에 사용되는 동물 모델의 개발 등을 포함한 다방면에서 중요하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 SARS-CoV-2의 동물 감염에 대해 역학 검토 및 대응 전략을 One-health 관점에서 접근하여 분석하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.401-407
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• 2021

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is an ongoing pandemic disease. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses have been detected and characterized not only in COVID-19 patients and convalescents, but also unexposed individuals. Here, we review the phenotypes and functions of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in COVID-19 patients and the relationships between SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses and COVID-19 severity. In addition, we describe the phenotypes and functions of SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells after recovery from COVID-19 and discuss the presence of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells in unexposed individuals and SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses elicited by COVID-19 vaccines. A better understanding of T-cell responses is important for effective control of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.30.1-30.7
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• 2020

The novel coronavirus pandemic that has originated from China and spread throughout the world in three months. Genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) predecessor, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) play an important role in understanding the concept of genetic variation. In this paper, the genomic data accessed from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) through Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA) for statistical analysis. Firstly, the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and Akaike information criterion (AICc) are used to evaluate the best substitution pattern. Secondly, the maximum likelihood method used to estimate of transition/transversions (R) through Kimura-2, Tamura-3, Hasegawa-Kishino-Yano, and Tamura-Nei nucleotide substitutions model. Thirdly and finally nucleotide frequencies computed based on genomic data of NCBI. The results indicate that general times reversible model has the lowest BIC and AICc score 347,394 and 347,287, respectively. The transition/transversions bias for nucleotide substitutions models varies from 0.56 to 0.59 in MEGA output. The average nitrogenous bases frequency of U, C, A, and G are 31.74, 19.48, 28.04, and 20.74, respectively in percentages. Overall the genomic data analysis of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV highlights the close genetic relationship.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2006

The sudden appearance and potential lethality of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in humans has resulted in a focusing of new attention on the determination of both its origins and evolution. The relationship existing between SARS-CoV and other groups of coronaviruses was determined via analyses of phylogenetic trees and comparative genomic analyses of the coronavirus genes: polymerase (Orflab), spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N). Although the coronaviruses are traditionally classed into 3 groups, with SARS-CoV forming a $4^{th}$ group, the phylogenetic position and origins of SARS-CoV remain a matter of some controversy. Thus, we conducted extensive phylogeneitc analyses of the genes common to all coronavirus groups, using the Neighbor-joining, Maximum-likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Our data evidenced largely identical topology for all of the obtained phylogenetic trees, thus supporting the hypothesis that the relationship existing between SARS-CoV and group 2 coronavirus is a monophyletic one. Additional comparative genomic studies, including sequence similarity and protein secondary structure analyses, suggested that SARS-Co V may bear a closer relationship with group 2 than with the other coronavirus groups. Although our data strongly suggest that group 2 coronaviruses are most closely related with SARS-CoV, further and more detailed analyses may provide us with an increased amount of information regarding the origins and evolution of the coronaviruses, most notably SARS-CoV.