Human pathogenic coronaviruses, origin and prevention
Luis Enjuanes
Centro Nacional de Biotecnología CNB-CSIC
The barriers between animal and human infections are frequently crossed causing zoonotic diseases. In the presentation we will review the emergence of deadly coronaviruses for humans, including the new virus SARS-CoV-2 from China and describe its origin. Also, the molecular bases of coronavirus pathogenicity will be approached. Protection against viral epidemics has many aspects, but prevention through vaccination is one of the most effective, followed by antiviral treatments. Deletion of non-essential genes in human coronaviruses resulted in attenuated viruses that protect against infection. SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates were based on self-replicating RNA. These replicons were safe and induced steralizing immunity.