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"A
novel coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome,"
by Thomas G. Ksiazek and
25 others, for the SARS Working Group, New England Journal of Medicine,
348(20): 1953-66, 15 May 2003.
[Authors' affiliations: 7 institutions
worldwide]
Abstract:
"Background A worldwide outbreak of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) has been associated with exposures originating from a single
ill health care worker from Guangdong Province, China. We conducted studies to
identify the etiologic agent of this outbreak. Methods We received
clinical specimens from patients in seven countries and tested them, using
virus-isolation techniques, electron-microscopical and histologic studies and
molecular and serologic assays, in an attempt to identify a wide range of
potential pathogens. Results None of the previously described
respiratory pathogens were consistently identified. However, a novel
coronavirus was isolated from patients who met the case definition of SARS.
Cytopathological features were noted in Vero E6 cells inoculated with a
throat-swab specimen. Electron microscopical examination revealed
ultrastructural features characteristic of coronaviruses.
Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining revealed reactivity with
group I coronavirus polyclonal antibodies. Consensus coronavirus primers
designed to amplify a fragment of the polymerase gene by reverse
transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to obtain a
sequence that clearly identified the isolate as a unique coronavirus only
distantly related to previously sequenced coronaviruses. With specific
diagnostic RT-PCR primers we identified several identical nucleotide sequences
in 12 patients from several locations, a finding consistent with a
point-source outbreak. Indirect fluorescence antibody tests and enzyme-linked
immunoabsorbent assays made with the new isolate have been used to demonstrate
a virus-specific serologic response. This virus may never before have
circulated in the U.S. population. Conclusions A novel coronavirus is
associated with this outbreak, and the evidence indicates that this virus has
an etiologic role in SARS. Because of the death of Dr. Carlo Urbani, we
propose that our first isolate be named the Urbani strain of SARS-associated
coronavirus."
This 2003 report from the New England
Journal of Medicine was cited 71 times in current journal articles
indexed by Thomson Scientific during January-February 2005. With its latest
bimonthly total, this is currently the most-cited paper in medicine published
in the last two years, not counting reviews. At present, half of the current
Top Ten papers in medicine deal with SARS and its causative agent. Prior to
the most recent bimonthly count, citations to the above paper have accrued as
follows:
November-December 2004: 38 citations
September-October 2004: 51
July-August 2004: 54
May-June 2004: 58
March-April 2004: 55
January-February 2004: 71
November-December 2003: 39
September-October 2003: 42
July-August 2003: 29
May-June 2003: 7
Total citations to date: 515
SOURCE: Hot
Papers Database (Included with a subscription to the ISI print newsletter Science
Watch®, available from the ISI
Research Services Group. Packaged on a CD-ROM that is mailed with each Science
Watch issue, the Hot
Papers Database contains data on hundreds of highly cited papers published
during the last two years. User interface permits searching by author,
organization, journal, field, and more. Total citations, as well as citations
accrued during successive bimonthly periods, can be assessed and graphed. An
updated CD containing the most recent bimonthly data is mailed with every new
issue of Science
Watch,
six times a year. The CD also includes an electronic version of the Science
Watch
issue in HTML format, for personal desktop access.)
Read about the special topic coronavirus in ESI
Special Topics.
View
the top
3 Hot Papers in Clinical Medicine; for the period of January 1, 1994 -
December 31, 2004. This paper is featured as the #3 paper.
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the top 10
scientists in Clinical Medicine; for the period of January 1, 1994 -
December 31, 2004.
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