EVOLUTION OF THE SARS VIRUS

1
EVOLUTION OF THE SARS VIRUS

• By Ryan Park and Garrett Quesnell
• Shorecrest H.S.
• Ms.White
• Multimedia
• 1/3/06

2
Introduction

• SARS stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
• 8,098 became infected by the virus
• 774 people died from the virus
• Transferred through different creatures before
  making it to humans
• Spread through a large area of the world

3
Virus Information

• SARS is a corona virus
• Attacks the respiratory system
• Spread through close contact and is airborne
• Symptoms include High fevers exceeding 100
  degrees, headaches, body aches, a dry hacking
  cough and diarrhea
• Symptoms appear in 2-7 days

4
SARS now

• First case reported in 2003
• After SARS virus the world is now more prepared
  for future viruses
• Government went to the CDC in order to stop the
  crisis

5
Progression of Virus

• Originated from Guangdong Province of China.
• 8 different strains of virus found.
• Carriers included Horseshoe bats, Civet, Humans.
• Nipah and Hendra viruses found in Bats.
• Virus strains in Civet and Humans were from Bats.
•  

The works of a vaccination is being discussed in
the SARS Global Conference.
6
Molecular Level of Virus

• Is a corona virus
• Attacks similarly as other RNA viruses
• Has spikes which assist it when entering cell.
• Infection when viral envelope proteins latch to
  receptors of cell surface.
• Viral membrane fuses with cell membrane and
  releases RNA genome into single stranded and then
  double stranded DNA.
• Copies viral genome.
• Envelope proteins are synthesized in ER from a
  spliced RNA transcript.
• Newly formed virions bud from the cells surface.
• Then the cell continues to create hundreds of
  more viruses.

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SARS future

• Most common way of creating new viruses is
  through evolution of an old virus
• The new virus is considered new because it
  attacks the body in a different way
• Viruses evolve at such a rapid rate that it would
  be hard to document their changes

The works of a vaccination is being discussed in
the SARS Global Conference.
8
Conclusion

• The SARS virus left a mark in the history of the
  world. Although morbidity and mortality rates
  were high, it let researchers collect a lot of
  unknown information about viruses. Because of the
  new information, new hypotheses are being formed
  and more things are being investigated,
  Eventually the threat of viruses, no matter their
  strength, will go down to nothing. Viruses like
  SARS evolved by traveling between different
  organisms and received their immunities, making a
  new virus. Exposing mankind to things like this
  is essential to learn more about them even though
  it comes at a huge price. We expect that because
  of the new information found viruses will
  basically have little effect on mankind in the
  future and it will eventually save more lives
  then it has taken.

9
Sources

• Movie clips from
• g2.akl.telstra.net.nz
• http//newmedia.colorado.edu/Content/newsteam/-
• SARS virus information from.
• lthttp//www.asianews.it/view.php?lenart3407gtlth
  ttp//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3442317.stmgt -lth
  ttp//www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/factsheet.htmgt 
• lthttp//health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0
  001719/48/gt lthttp//www.thebody.com/cdc/news_upda
  tes_archive/2003/may1_03/sars_resistance.htmlgtltht
  tp//www.thebody.com/cdc/news_updates_archive/2003
  /may1_03/sars_resistance.htmlgt