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Review article Toroviruses: replication, evolution and comparison with other members of the coronavirus-like superfamily
BibTeX
@MISC{Snijder_reviewarticle,
author = {Eric J. Snijder and Marian C. Horzinek},
title = {Review article Toroviruses: replication, evolution and comparison with other members of the coronavirus-like superfamily},
year = {}
}
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Abstract
Based on their morphological and physicochemical characteristics, the Toroviridae were initially proposed to constitute a new family of enveloped RNA viruses (Horzinek & Weiss, 1984; Horzinek et al., 1987). However, recent analysis of the genetic information and replication strategy of the prototype Berne virus (BEV) (Snijder et al., 1988, 1990a, c) has revealed that toro-viruses are not unique: they are clearly related to the Coronaviridae and, more distantly, to the arteriviruses (den Boon et al., 1991 b). This information has led to the reclassification f the toroviruses as a new genus in the coronavirus family (Pringle, 1992) and to the intro-duction of the unofficial term 'coronavirus-like super-family ' to indicate the evolutionary ties between the three virus groups mentioned above. The history of torovirus research not only illustrates the taxonomic onsequences present-day molecular an-alysis may have; the BEV genome has also turned out to be a showcase for the two driving forces in RNA virus evolution: divergence from a common ancestor and RNA recombination (Snijder et al., 1991 a). Comparison of the torovirus genome with those of corona- and arteriviruses has contributed toour understanding of the evolution and replication of all three virus groups. The aim of this review is to present an overview of the data obtained uring the molecular characterization f the torovirus prototype BEV. In addition, evolutionary aspects of our results and their relevance for the classification of toroviruses, coronaviruses and arteri-viruses will be discussed. For information about the clinical and epidemiological spects of toroviruses the reader is referred to a recent review by Koopmans &
Keyphrases
review article coronavirus-like superfamily virus group molecular characterization prototype berne virus evolutionary tie torovirus genome coronavirus family recent analysis recent review rna virus evolution genetic information new genus bev genome den boon et al torovirus prototype bev horzinek wei unofficial term new family driving force enveloped rna virus physicochemical characteristic evolutionary aspect replication strategy taxonomic onsequences present-day molecular an-alysis epidemiological spects common ancestor rna recombination torovirus research
