By: Balwantsinh Chauhan, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy
Coronaviruses are introduced as a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. They have characteristic club-shaped spikes that project from their surface, which in electrographs create an image that resembles the solar corona. In result, they derived their name “CORONA-VIRUSES.” The meaning of corona in Latin is defined as ‘crown’ or ‘wreath.’ Currently, there are three known types of coronaviruses. The first type is SARS-CoV, which is mainly responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2002, SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – Corona Virus) originated from an animal reservoir, primarily in bats. The source of this reservoir eventually mutated onto the civet, which later transmitted onto humans. The second type is the Middle Eastern Respiratory Distress Syndrome or MERS-CoV, which also originated from an animal reservoir, the bat. This reservoir also mutated onto the camel, which eventually transmitted towards humans. Finally, in 2019, Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, otherwise known as SARS-CoV-2 or Corona Virus Disease-19 retains the source of the reservoir from a bat. The source of the reservoir mutates onto the pangolin and later to humans. The virus mutates by ‘homologous recombination’, i.e. swamping of genetic material.
Currently, there are 213 countries and territories with a reported total of 9,754,573 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Although there have been many challenges and consequences in these unfortunate cases, medical/health professionals and disease specialists are uniting and compromising together to make progress. American University of Health Sciences is proud of its board of certified and licensed faculty members for their professional expertise in researching the virus.
About American University of Health Sciences
AUHS is a Christian based, minority-serving university, which educates students for careers in the healthcare professions. AUHS emphasizes the values of faith in God, love of humankind, and belief that all people have a right to healthcare and deserve a good quality of life based on the wellness of body, mind, and spirit. The university celebrates diversity and reaches out to groups currently underrepresented in healthcare and research. AUHS provides the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, hands-on practical training, and supportive environment required to create competent and compassionate healthcare professionals.
American University of Health Sciences is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001.
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