Antibody Responses in Contacts of COVID-19 Patients

After several cases of pneumonia with an unfamiliar etiology were observed at the end of 2019, the National Health Commission of China released more details about the epidemic in early 2020. The pathogen was identified as a novel coronavirus and named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as it has a phylogenetic similarity to SARS-CoV. Since then, SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly and the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO). SARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious, and there has not yet been any vaccine or effective treatment that has received approval. So, the best solution for controlling the pandemic will be the simultaneous application of preventive methods, sensitive diagnostic approaches, and using current available drugs, while still developing novel treatments. Coronaviruses are enveloped, non-segmented, single positive-stranded RNA viruses with round or oval particles and a diameter of 50-200 nm. Coronavirus subfamily is divided into four genera: α, β, γ and δ according to serotype and genomic characteristics.