Human coronavirus NL63 - molecular characteristics and clinical image

The first two human coronaviruses: 229E and OC43 were identified as human respiratory pathogens already in the 1960's. For almost 40 years - until the emergence of the SARS-CoV - these viruses have been neglected and remained in the shadow of more pathogenic viral species. The emergence of a highly virulent coronavirus resulted in the increased interest in this group of viruses, and soon after two more coronaviral species infecting humans were identified: HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1. The following manuscript summarizes the current knowledge about the new human pathogen - human coronavirus NL63.