Novel Human Virus Causing Respiratory Tract Infection And Uses Thereof

Abstract

The Present Invention Provides The Complete Genomic Sequence Of A Novel Human Coronavirus, Coined As Coronavirus-Hku1 ("Cov-Hku1"), Isolated In Hong Kong From A Patient Who Had A Recent History Of Visit To Schenzhen. China. The Virus Belongs To The Order Nidovirales Of The Family Coronavirdae, Being A Single-Stranded Rna Virus Of Positive Polarity. The Invention Also Provides The Deduced Amino Acid Sequences Of The Complete Genome Of The Cov-Hku1. The Nucleotide Sequences And Deduced Amino Acid Sequences Of The Cov-Hku1 Are Useful In Preventing, Diagnosing And/Or Treating The Infection By Cov-Hku1. Furthermore, The Invention Provides Immunogenic And Vaccine Preparations Using Recombinant And Chimeric Forms As Well As Subunits Of The Cov-Hku1 Based On The Nucleotide Sequences And Deduced Amino Acid Sequences Of The Cov-Hku1.