Abstract: A canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCV) that is present in the respiratory tract of dogs with canine infectious respiratory disease and which has a low level of homology to the enteric canine coronavirus, but which has a high level of homology to all bovine coronavirus strains (e.g., Quebec and LY138) and human coronavirus strain OC43.

Abstract: Fusion proteins of recombinant SARS coronavirus structural proteins, their production and uses are provided. An optimized SARS coronavirus S protein gene which can be highly expressed in the mammalian cell strains and SARS coronavirus S protein variants comprising deletion, modification or mutation amino acids 318-510 corresponding to SARS coronavirus S protein are also provided.

Abstract: A method for preventing canine coronavirus in dogs is disclosed which comprises administering to a dog a live or inactivated vaccine prepared from transmissible gastroenteritis virus of swine (a TGEV vaccine). An inactivated vaccine composition for use in such a method and a process for the manufacture of the inactivated vaccine composition are described.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a novel CTL epitope peptide of the SARS coronavirus. The present invention provides a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 23 and 24.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus, resulting from a sample collected in Hanoi (Vietnam), reference number 031589, nucleic acid molecules originating from the genome of same, proteins and peptides coded by said nucleic acid molecules and, more specifically, protein N and the applications thereof, for example, as diagnostic reagents and/or as a vaccine.

Abstract: A helper cell for producing an infectious, replication defective, coronavirus (or more generally nidovirus) particle cell comprises (a) a nidovirus permissive cell; (b) a nidovirus replicon RNA comprising the nidovirus packaging signal and a heterologous RNA sequence, wherein the replicon RNA further lacks a sequence encoding at least one nidovirus structural protein; and (c) at least one separate helper RNA encoding the at least one structural protein absent from the replicon RNA, the helper RNA(s) lacking the nidovirus packaging signal. The combined expression of the replicon RNA and the helper RNA in the nidovirus permissive cell produces an assembled nidovirus particle which comprises the heterologous RNA sequence, is able to infect a cell, and is unable to complete viral replication in the absence of the helper RNA due to the absence of the structural protein coding sequence in the packaged replicon.

Abstract: A helper cell for producing an infectious, replication defective, coronavirus (or more generally nidovirus) particle cell comprises (a) a nidovirus permissive cell; (b) a nidovirus replicon RNA comprising the nidovirus packaging signal and a heterologous RNA sequence, wherein the replicon RNA further lacks a sequence encoding at least one nidovirus structural protein; and (c) at least one separate helper RNA encoding the at least one structural protein absent from the replicon RNA, the helper RNA(s) lacking the nidovirus packaging signal. The combined expression of the replicon RNA and the helper RNA in the nidovirus permissive cell produces an assembled nidovirus particle which comprises the heterologous RNA sequence, is able to infect a cell, and is unable to complete viral replication in the absence of the helper RNA due to the absence of the structural protein coding sequence in the packaged replicon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chimaeric coronavirus S protein which is based on an S protein from a coronavirus strain with restricted tissue tropism, but which comprises at least part of the S2 subunit from a coronavirus strain with extended tissue tropism, such that a virus comprising the chimaeric S protein has extended tissue tropism. The present invention also provides a virus comprising such a chimaeric S protein.

Abstract: Isolated polypeptides containing fragments of SARS CoV S protein and functional equivalents thereof. Also disclosed are isolated nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, related expression vectors, related host cells, related antibodies, and related compositions. Methods of producing the polypeptide, diagnosing infection with a coronavirus, and identifying a test compound for treating infection with a coronavirus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Isolated polypeptides containing fragments of SARS CoV S protein and functional equivalents thereof. Also disclosed are isolated nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, related expression vectors, related host cells, related antibodies, and related compositions. Methods of producing the polypeptide, diagnosing infection with a coronavirus, and identifying a test compound for treating infection with a coronavirus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of novel nucleotide sequences for the spike peptide, pol region peptide and M and N region peptide of the ferret coronavirus and derivative products for the diagnosis and treatment of epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) in ferrets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of novel nucleotide sequences for the M and N region peptide of the ferret coronavirus and derivative products for the diagnosis and treatment of epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) in ferrets.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in decreasing the level of or severity of respiratory infection or disease due to paramyxoviruses, such as RSV or HPIV, or coronavirus infection. Particularly, the invention relates to modulating gene expression using a multitargeting interfering RNA molecules that target multiple target sites on one or more pre-selected RNA molecules.

Abstract: Coronaviruses can be a significant factor in bovine shipping fever. A new human rectal tumor cell line, HRT-18G, is suitable as a host cell line for the propagation of these bovine respiratory coronavirus-shipping fever viruses, and also is well suited for the propagation of other bovine coronaviruses.

Abstract: Described are binding molecules that specifically bind to SARS-CoV, nucleic acid molecules encoding the binding molecules, compositions comprising the binding molecules, and methods of identifying or producing the binding molecules. The binding molecules are capable of specifically binding to SARS-CoV, and can be used in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, and/or treatment of a condition resulting from SAR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic agents useful for the treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans. In particular, the present invention relates to RNA interference (RNAi) molecules useful for inhibiting the infection and replication of hSARS virus. Preferably, the RNAi molecules target the replicase region of the hSARS virus, or combinations of different sites of hSARS virus genes. The present invention further encompasses methods of using the RNAi molecules for preventing and/or treating SARS. Vaccines and kits comprising therapeutically effective amounts of the RNAi molecules are also encompassed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies including human antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that specifically bind to human SARS-CoV S protein, and that function to neutralize SARS-CoV. The invention also relates to antibodies that are bispecific, derivatized, single chain antibodies or portions of fusion proteins. The invention also relates to isolated heavy and light chain immunoglobulins derived from human anti-SARS-CoV S protein antibodies and nucleic acid molecules encoding such immunoglobulins. The present invention also relates to methods of using the antibodies and compositions for diagnosis and treatment. The invention also provides gene therapy methods using nucleic acid molecules encoding the heavy and/or light immunoglobulin molecules that comprise the human anti-SARS-CoV S protein antibodies. The invention also relates to transgenic animals or plants comprising nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolation and characterization of a class of isolated novel viruses which is the precursor of the virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). The precursor virus which is a SARS coronavirus-like virus (“SCoV-like virus”) is identified to be morphologically and phylogenetically similar to hSARS virus. The present invention relates to a nucleotide sequence comprising the genomic sequence of the SCoV-like virus. The invention further relates to nucleotide sequences comprising a portion of the genomic sequence of the SCoV-like virus. The invention also relates to the deduced amino acid sequences of the SCoV-like virus. The invention further relates to the nucleic acids and peptides encoded by and/or derived from these sequences and their use in diagnostic methods and therapeutic methods.