SARS Coronavirus

**Semantic type:** Virus

**Definition:** A species of enveloped, spherical or pleomorphic, kidney-shaped or rod-shaped viruses in the Coronaviridae family and Coronavirus genus. The genome is composed of linear, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA. SARS coronaviruses are found in humans and cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SARS coronaviruses are transmitted via direct person-to-person contact with infected secretions or excretions, and aerosols of respiratory droplets.

**Synonyms:** - HCoV-SARS - SARS - SARS CORONAVIRUS - SARS-CoV - SARS-CoV - SARS-CoV-1 - SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME-RELATED CORONAVIRUS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus