In this article, we will discuss the Classification of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. So, let’s get started.
Classification
Sars coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was first identified in the year 2003 when it caused an epidemic of fatal human pneumonia that had an epicenter in Hong Kong. Sars is an enveloped positive-sense-single-stranded RNA virus and is a member of the genus Betacoronavirus (group 2) and subgenus Sarbecovirus (subgroup B). Complete classification is given below:
- Realm – Riboviria
- Phylum – incertae sedis
- Order – Nidovirales
- Family – Coronaviridae
- Genus – Betacoronavirus
- Subgenus – Sarbecovirus
SARS-CoV-2 strain is responsible for causing the 2019-20 global pandemic of coronavirus disease. Bats are a major reservoir of many strains of SARS related coronavirus. Recently the virus (strains SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) has evolved and made cross species jump from bats to humans. Both these strains descended from single ancestor but made the cross species jump into humans seperately. SARS-CoV-2 is not a direct descendant of SARS-CoV.