A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin Hypotheses
ABSTRACT When humans experience a new, devastating viral infection such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), significant challenges arise. How should individuals as well as societies respond to the situation? One of the primary questions concerns the origin of the SARS-Co...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2023-04-01
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| Series: | mSphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00119-23 |
| _version_ | 1797843512608161792 |
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| author | James C. Alwine Arturo Casadevall Lynn W. Enquist Felicia D. Goodrum Michael J. Imperiale |
| author_facet | James C. Alwine Arturo Casadevall Lynn W. Enquist Felicia D. Goodrum Michael J. Imperiale |
| author_sort | James C. Alwine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT When humans experience a new, devastating viral infection such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), significant challenges arise. How should individuals as well as societies respond to the situation? One of the primary questions concerns the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that infected and was transmitted efficiently among humans, resulting in a pandemic. At first glance, the question appears straightforward to answer. However, the origin of SARS-CoV-2 has been the topic of substantial debate primarily because we do not have access to some relevant data. At least two major hypotheses have been suggested: a natural origin through zoonosis followed by sustained human-to-human spread or the introduction of a natural virus into humans from a laboratory source. Here, we summarize the scientific evidence that informs this debate to provide our fellow scientists and the public with the tools to join the discussion in a constructive and informed manner. Our goal is to dissect the evidence to make it more accessible to those interested in this important problem. The engagement of a broad representation of scientists is critical to ensure that the public and policy-makers can draw on relevant expertise in navigating this controversy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:06:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7007f747db394d659e4316c03483874a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2379-5042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:06:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | mSphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-7007f747db394d659e4316c03483874a2023-04-20T13:01:45ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymSphere2379-50422023-04-018210.1128/msphere.00119-23A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin HypothesesJames C. Alwine0Arturo Casadevall1Lynn W. Enquist2Felicia D. Goodrum3Michael J. Imperiale4Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USABloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USADepartment of Immunobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USADepartment of Immunobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAABSTRACT When humans experience a new, devastating viral infection such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), significant challenges arise. How should individuals as well as societies respond to the situation? One of the primary questions concerns the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that infected and was transmitted efficiently among humans, resulting in a pandemic. At first glance, the question appears straightforward to answer. However, the origin of SARS-CoV-2 has been the topic of substantial debate primarily because we do not have access to some relevant data. At least two major hypotheses have been suggested: a natural origin through zoonosis followed by sustained human-to-human spread or the introduction of a natural virus into humans from a laboratory source. Here, we summarize the scientific evidence that informs this debate to provide our fellow scientists and the public with the tools to join the discussion in a constructive and informed manner. Our goal is to dissect the evidence to make it more accessible to those interested in this important problem. The engagement of a broad representation of scientists is critical to ensure that the public and policy-makers can draw on relevant expertise in navigating this controversy.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00119-23COVID-19SARS-CoV-2zoonosiscoronaviruslab leakorigin |
| spellingShingle | James C. Alwine Arturo Casadevall Lynn W. Enquist Felicia D. Goodrum Michael J. Imperiale A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin Hypotheses mSphere COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 zoonosis coronavirus lab leak origin |
| title | A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin Hypotheses |
| title_full | A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin Hypotheses |
| title_fullStr | A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin Hypotheses |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin Hypotheses |
| title_short | A Critical Analysis of the Evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 Origin Hypotheses |
| title_sort | critical analysis of the evidence for the sars cov 2 origin hypotheses |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 zoonosis coronavirus lab leak origin |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00119-23 |
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