History and Recent Advances in Coronavirus Discovery

Abdul-Fattah, S.; Pal, A.; Kaka, N.; Kakodkar, P.

As of 6th September 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected a total of 188 countries and has spread across to 26,924,131 people. The causal organism responsible for COVID-19 is SARS-CoV-2 which resurged from the coronavirus family. COVID-19 range and rapidity of spread imposed a heavy burden on the healthcare services and led to stringent public help measures. The consequence of this is a detriment to the global economy in a background of continued morbidity and mortality from complications of COVID-19. Hence research and development dedicated to studying the coronavirus family may assist with discovering a COVID-19 specific treatment. This chapter aims to clarify the basics of coronavirus virology, i.e. taxonomy, virion structure and molecular pathophysiology. Furthermore, the history and origins of the human coronavirus cluster (HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1), as well as severe epidemic/pandemic causing coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV) is highlighted. As the coronavirus research is rapidly expanding, we have emphasized on a select few novel studies on the association of human coronaviruses with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor tissue distribution, Kawasaki Disease, Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System, repurposing antiviral agents, CoV main protease (MPro) inhibitor, dexamethasone efficacy, BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card and ABO blood group system.