|Research Focus Coronavirus in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Future research on the molecular virology of SARS-CoV will be important in the understanding of the epidemiology and the natural history of SARS. This will also facilitate the develop-ment of sensitive and accurate diagnostic tests, as well as vaccination and other therapeutics to combat SARS. In November 2002, an outbreak of a life-threatening ‘atypical pneumonia ’ for which no etiological agent could be identified occurred in Guangdong Province, China. In March 2003, a similar outbreak was reported in Hong Kong [1]. Cases of similar respiratory illness were subsequently reported globally including China, Taiwan