Study of the Possible Origin and Evolution of Coronaviruses, Focusing on Recent 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a pandemic highly pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan of China and then spread worldwide. The genome assessment of this virus revealed that SARS-CoV-2 has phylogenetically high similarity with SARS-like bat viruses. So, the bat can be considered as a primary reservoir of this virus. The intermediate and transfer source of this virus to human has not yet been recognized. In the present study, the origin and evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in comparison with the two SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) respiratory syndrome viruses, as well as the genetic and phylogenetic evidences regards SARS-COV-2 was discussed.