The species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus : classifying 2019-nCoV and naming it SARS-CoV-2

Type Journal Article Author Alexander E. Gorbalenya Author Susan C. Baker Author Ralph S. Baric Author Raoul J. de Groot Author Christian Drosten Author Anastasia A. Gulyaeva Author Bart L. Haagmans Author Chris Lauber Author Andrey M. Leontovich Author Benjamin W. Neuman Author Dmitry Penzar Author Stanley Perlman Author Leo L. M. Poon Author Dmitry V. Samborskiy Author Igor A. Sidorov Author Isabel Sola Author John Ziebuhr Author Coronaviridae Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses URL https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-020-0695-z Rights 2020 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited Volume 5 Issue 4 Pages 536-544 Publication Nature Microbiology ISSN 2058-5276 Date 02/03/2020 Extra Number: 4 Publisher: Nature Publishing Group DOI 10.1038/s41564-020-0695-z Library Catalog www.nature.com Language en Abstract The present outbreak of a coronavirus-associated acute respiratory disease called coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is the third documented spillover of an animal coronavirus to humans in only two decades that has resulted in a major epidemic. The Coronaviridae Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, which is responsible for developing the classification of viruses and taxon nomenclature of the family Coronaviridae, has assessed the placement of the human pathogen, tentatively named 2019-nCoV, within the Coronaviridae. Based on phylogeny, taxonomy and established practice, the CSG recognizes this virus as forming a sister clade to the prototype human and bat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs) of the species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, and designates it as SARS-CoV-2. In order to facilitate communication, the CSG proposes to use the following naming convention for individual isolates: SARS-CoV-2/host/location/isolate/date. While the full spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans remains to be determined, the independent zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 highlights the need for studying viruses at the species level to complement research focused on individual pathogenic viruses of immediate significance. This will improve our understanding of virus–host interactions in an ever-changing environment and enhance our preparedness for future outbreaks. Short Title The species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus