More and More Coronaviruses: Human Coronavirus HKU1
2009
Human Coronavirus HKU1: Understanding Its Characteristics and Impact
Sample size: 22
publication
10 minutes
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Patrick C. Y. Woo, Susanna K. P. Lau, Cyril C. Y. Yip, Yi Huang, Kwok-Yung Yuen
Primary Institution: The University of Hong Kong
Conclusion
Human coronavirus HKU1 is associated with respiratory infections and shows unique genomic features.
Supporting Evidence
- HCoV-HKU1 is the fourth human coronavirus discovered.
- It shows the most extreme codon usage bias among coronaviruses.
- The incidence of HCoV-HKU1 infections is highest in winter.
- Most infections are self-limiting and associated with respiratory symptoms.
- Unique genomic features include a 30-base acidic tandem repeat.
Takeaway
Human coronavirus HKU1 is a virus that can make you sick, especially in winter, and it has some special traits that make it different from other viruses.
Methodology
The study involved sequencing and analyzing the genomes of HCoV-HKU1 and examining its epidemiology and clinical impact.
Limitations
The virus is not cultivable in cell lines, which limits some experimental approaches.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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