Internal medicine

Pathology

Virus

Disease

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Biology

Outbreak

Intensive care medicine

Virology

Pathogen

Immunology

Coronavirus

Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia

Computer science

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Medicine

Transmission (telecommunications)

Telecommunications

International Journal of Biological Sciences

An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus, currently designated as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), was reported recently.However, as SARS-CoV-2 is an emerging virus, we know little about it.In this review, we summarize the key events occurred during the early stage of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, the basic characteristics of the pathogen, the signs and symptoms of the infected patients as well as the possible transmission pathways of the virus.Furthermore, we also review the current knowledge on the origin and evolution of the SARS-CoV-2.We highlight bats as the potential natural reservoir and pangolins as the possible intermediate host of the virus, but their roles are waiting for further investigation.Finally, the advances in the development of chemotherapeutic options are also briefly summarized.

SARS-CoV-2: an Emerging Coronavirus that Causes a Global Threat