COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE ORIGIN, EVOLUTION, TRANSMISSION, DIAGNOSIS, AND VACCINE DEVELOPMENT OF THREE HIGHLY PATHOGENIC HUMAN CORONAVIRUSES (SARS-COV, MERS-COV AND SARS-COV-2)

Coronavirus infection in humans is not uncommon. The first coronavirus (HCoV-229E) in humans was isolated in 1965. Subsequently, three more coronaviruses were recognized: HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-229E. These viruses are endemic in humans and cause common cold and mild respiratory infections throughout the year. The three coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 are highly pathogenic coronaviruses that cause very severe respiratory diseases in human. SARS-CoV-2 is a newly emerging coronavirus posing pandemic COVID-19 disease that has disrupted the human life in many ways. In this review, the origin, evolution, transmission, vaccine development, and clinical characteristics of these highly pathogenic human coronaviruses are compared and discussed to understand the common and different features of these viruses and their relevance to develop a successful vaccine to control the pandemic COVID-19. Coronavirus infection in humans is not uncommon. The first coronavirus (HCoV-229E) in humans was isolated in 1965. Subsequently, three more coronaviruses were recognized: HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-229E. These viruses are endemic in humans and cause common cold and mild respiratory infections throughout the year. The three coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 are highly pathogenic coronaviruses that cause very severe respiratory diseases in human. SARS-CoV-2 is a newly emerging coronavirus posing pandemic COVID-19 disease that has disrupted the human life in many ways. In this review, the origin, evolution, transmission, vaccine development, and clinical characteristics of these highly pathogenic human coronaviruses are compared and discussed to understand the common and different features of these viruses and their relevance to develop a successful vaccine to control the pandemic COVID-19.