Human Coronavirus Research Reagents

Human coronaviruses (HCoVs), including HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1, are traditionally known to cause symptoms of the common cold with only moderate clinical impact. Although it is speculated that the spillover of OC43 as a bovine CoV to humans, caused the 1890 flu pandemic and not Influenza Virus (1). Both HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1 originated in rats. Whereas while SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-NL63 appear to have originated in bats, their zoonotic intermediate, is not yet known. It is of interest to note that SADS-CoV (swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus) also originated in bats but as so far known has not crossed to humans. Coronaviruses can cause colds with major symptoms, such as fever, and a sore throat from swollen adenoids. Coronaviruses can cause pneumonia (either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia) and bronchitis (either direct viral bronchitis or secondary bacterial bronchitis).