Viral and Host Factors Driving the Emergence and the Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses

Dear Colleagues,

Eighteen months ago, humanity was facing the emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. This emergence, from an animal reservoir, is the third in just two decades after the SARS-CoV-1 in 2002 and the MERS in 2012. Thus, new SARS pandemics are likely to occur in the future.

SARS viruses undergo continuous genetic changes. Thousands of SARS-CoV-2 variants have been detected by laboratory screening. Four of them (from United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and India) that may have enhanced transmission and pathogenicity are emerging and are of great concern. Regarding the vaccines authorized to date for an emergency use, there is also concern about the reduction in vaccine-induced immune protection to emerging variants.

The complex questions to explore are : (i) what makes a SARS virus transmissible from one species to another, and (ii) which factors drive mutation, evolution and emergence of SARS. Understanding these questions will provide us with better tools to controlling COVID.

The aim of this special issue is to provide data on the viral, cellular and host factors involved in the emergence and evolution of the SARS viruses. Several factors are in question such as the viral dynamic, the RNA nature of the virus - ability to mutate, the role of co-infections and recombinations -, host and cellular restriction factors as well as host immunity and immune escape.

Papers focusing on animal coronaviruses that may be relevant to SARS-CoV-2 are welcome.

Dr. Corinne Ronfort
Guest Editor

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