What do we know about 2008 references to SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-3?
What do we know about 2008 references to SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-3?
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SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, emerged in late 2019 and caused a global pandemic starting in early 2020. Following the current scientific naming convention, there has been no virus identified as SARS-CoV-3 as of early 2021. In 2008, a study was published by Chinese scientists funded by the European Commission as part of the Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals (SEPSDA). The study used the terms SARS-CoV1, SARS-CoV2, and SARS-CoV3. These numbered SARS-CoV terms refer to gene fragments of SARS-CoV-1, the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The 2008 study focuses on a method of packaging an RNA sequence that could reduce labor costs. It is unrelated to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS-CoV-1, originally referred to as simply SARS-CoV, was first identified during the SARS outbreaks of 2002-2004. SARS-CoV-2, originally referred to as 2019-nCoV, because it was a novel coronavirus that emerged in 2019, is a different virus from SARS-CoV-1. In a scientific consensus statement published by Nature in 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was renamed after being recognized as a sister to other respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses, including SARS. The recognition took place based on phylogeny (the study of evolutionary relationships between biological entities), taxonomy and established practice. SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, while related, are different viruses and just two of many coronaviruses (named for crown-like spikes on the surfaces) in the RNA virus family of Coronaviridae.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, emerged in late 2019 and caused a global pandemic starting in early 2020. Following the current scientific naming convention, there has been no virus identified as SARS-CoV-3 as of early 2021. In 2008, a study was published by Chinese scientists funded by the European Commission as part of the Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals (SEPSDA). The study used the terms SARS-CoV1, SARS-CoV2, and SARS-CoV3. These numbered SARS-CoV terms refer to gene fragments of SARS-CoV-1, the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The 2008 study focuses on a method of packaging an RNA sequence that could reduce labor costs. It is unrelated to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS-CoV-1, originally referred to as simply SARS-CoV, was first identified during the SARS outbreaks of 2002-2004. SARS-CoV-2, originally referred to as 2019-nCoV, because it was a novel coronavirus that emerged in 2019, is a different virus from SARS-CoV-1. In a scientific consensus statement published by Nature in 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was renamed after being recognized as a sister to other respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses, including SARS. The recognition took place based on phylogeny (the study of evolutionary relationships between biological entities), taxonomy and established practice. SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, while related, are different viruses and just two of many coronaviruses (named for crown-like spikes on the surfaces) in the RNA virus family of Coronaviridae.
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What our experts say
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, emerged in late 2019 and caused a global pandemic starting in early 2020. Following the current scientific naming convention, there has been no virus identified as SARS-CoV-3 as of early 2021.
In 2008, a study was published by Chinese scientists funded by the European Commission as part of the Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals (SEPSDA). The study used the terms SARS-CoV1, SARS-CoV2, and SARS-CoV3. These numbered SARS-CoV terms refer to gene fragments of SARS-CoV-1, the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The 2008 study focuses on a method of packaging an RNA sequence that could reduce labor costs. It is unrelated to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
SARS-CoV-1, originally referred to as simply SARS-CoV, was first identified during the SARS outbreaks of 2002-2004. SARS-CoV-2, originally referred to as 2019-nCoV, because it was a novel coronavirus that emerged in 2019, is a different virus from SARS-CoV-1. In a scientific consensus statement published by Nature in 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was renamed after being recognized as a sister to other respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses, including SARS. The recognition took place based on phylogeny (the study of evolutionary relationships between biological entities), taxonomy and established practice.
SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, while related, are different viruses and just two of many coronaviruses (named for crown-like spikes on the surfaces) in the RNA virus family of Coronaviridae.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, emerged in late 2019 and caused a global pandemic starting in early 2020. Following the current scientific naming convention, there has been no virus identified as SARS-CoV-3 as of early 2021.
In 2008, a study was published by Chinese scientists funded by the European Commission as part of the Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals (SEPSDA). The study used the terms SARS-CoV1, SARS-CoV2, and SARS-CoV3. These numbered SARS-CoV terms refer to gene fragments of SARS-CoV-1, the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The 2008 study focuses on a method of packaging an RNA sequence that could reduce labor costs. It is unrelated to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
SARS-CoV-1, originally referred to as simply SARS-CoV, was first identified during the SARS outbreaks of 2002-2004. SARS-CoV-2, originally referred to as 2019-nCoV, because it was a novel coronavirus that emerged in 2019, is a different virus from SARS-CoV-1. In a scientific consensus statement published by Nature in 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was renamed after being recognized as a sister to other respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses, including SARS. The recognition took place based on phylogeny (the study of evolutionary relationships between biological entities), taxonomy and established practice.
SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, while related, are different viruses and just two of many coronaviruses (named for crown-like spikes on the surfaces) in the RNA virus family of Coronaviridae.
Context and background
There are false claims circulating about a 2008 study by Chinese scientists with funding from the European Commission. These false claims have misinterpreted this 2008 study to incorrectly suggest that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was identified earlier than 2019.
There have been multiple false origin stories circulating for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, sometimes used to support conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic. Reputable scientists and scientific journals maintain there is no credible evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was known before it emerged in December 2019. Experts are still studying the origins of SARS-CoV-2 in more detail and indications currently suggest that the virus likely evolved in an animal host until a spillover event into humans, similarly to what happened with SARS-CoV-1.
There are false claims circulating about a 2008 study by Chinese scientists with funding from the European Commission. These false claims have misinterpreted this 2008 study to incorrectly suggest that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was identified earlier than 2019.
There have been multiple false origin stories circulating for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, sometimes used to support conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic. Reputable scientists and scientific journals maintain there is no credible evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was known before it emerged in December 2019. Experts are still studying the origins of SARS-CoV-2 in more detail and indications currently suggest that the virus likely evolved in an animal host until a spillover event into humans, similarly to what happened with SARS-CoV-1.
Resources
- RNase-Resistant Virus-Like Particles Containing Long Chimeric RNA Sequences Produced by Two-Plasmid Coexpression System (Journal of Clinical Microbiology)
- Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals (European Commission)
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (WHO)
- The species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus: classifying 2019-nCoV and naming it SARS-CoV-2 (Nature Microbiology)
- On the origins of SARS-CoV-2 (Nature Microbiology)
- FALSE: SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-3 were already included in a study funded by the European Commission in 2008 (Poynter / Newtral Spain)
- RNase-Resistant Virus-Like Particles Containing Long Chimeric RNA Sequences Produced by Two-Plasmid Coexpression System (Journal of Clinical Microbiology)
- Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals (European Commission)
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (WHO)
- The species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus: classifying 2019-nCoV and naming it SARS-CoV-2 (Nature Microbiology)
- On the origins of SARS-CoV-2 (Nature Microbiology)
- FALSE: SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-3 were already included in a study funded by the European Commission in 2008 (Poynter / Newtral Spain)
