What is SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was the disease responsible for a global pandemic from March 2020 to May 2023.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can infect a range of hosts. They are known to cause diseases including the common cold, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in humans.
Why does SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 matter?
Since the emergence of SARS-Cov-2, microbiologists have been integral to understanding and controlling the disease. Microbiologists around the world worked tirelessly to create vaccines and provide crucial information on how the disease spreads and mutates.
While COVID-19 is no longer considered a pandemic, it is still a threat to public health and there is much more to learn about the disease. Microbiologists are monitoring the spread and evolution of SARS-Cov-2 using genomic techniques, researching the effectiveness of the vaccines in circulation and advising on preparing for potential future pandemics.
Some of the questions that microbiologists are looking to answer:
- How are new SARS-CoV- 2 variants emerging?
- How effective have the COVID-19 vaccines been?
- What is the biological cause of Long COVID?
- Where did SARS-CoV-2 come from?
- Why do some people respond differently to COVID-19?
- How can we effectively prepare for possible future pandemics?
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Image: 3D render of coronavirus iStock/appledesign