RESUMO

In the 21st century, three highly pathogenic betacoronaviruses have emerged, with an alarming rate of human morbidity and case fatality. Genomic information has been widely used to understand the pathogenesis, animal origin and mode of transmission of coronaviruses in the aftermath of the 2002-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks. Furthermore, genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis have had an unprecedented relevance in the battle against the 2019-2020 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the newest and most devastating outbreak caused by a coronavirus in the history of mankind. Here, we review how genomic information has been used to tackle outbreaks caused by emerging, highly pathogenic, betacoronavirus strains, emphasizing on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We focus on shared genomic features of the betacoronaviruses and the application of genomic information to phylogenetic analysis, molecular epidemiology and the design of diagnostic systems, potential drugs and vaccine candidates.

Assuntos

Betacoronavirus/genética , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Genoma Viral , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Animais , Betacoronavirus/imunologia , COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Coronavirus/tratamento farmacológico , Desenho de Fármacos , Genes Virais , Humanos , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio/genética , Epidemiologia Molecular , Filogenia , Pneumonia Viral/diagnóstico , Pneumonia Viral/tratamento farmacológico , Coronavírus Relacionado à Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave/genética , SARS-CoV-2 , Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave/virologia , Vacinas Virais/genética , Vacinas Virais/imunologia