An overview on the genomic characteristics of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and the prospective in pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19 infection

ABSTRACT

Background: Emergence of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection (coronavirus disease-2019 or COVID-19) in China since late 2019 and its global distribution has attracted a big international attention. As 2019-nCov is an emerging pathogen, extending our knowledge about the similarities/differences of this virus with other members of the Coronaviridae family, its genetic characteristics, and pathogenesis could be beneficial to develop better strategies of diagnosis, control, and treatment. This pandemic disease is still so new to be fully identified, and there is a long way ahead for complete characterization of SARS-COV-2 and its disease.