Protein Portal: Enzyme acts as door for the SARS virus

A year ago, a mystery virus began to kill people in China. Causing an illness dubbed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the virus quickly spread beyond Asia and for a few months stirred fears of a worldwide epidemic.

With stunning speed, scientists identified the virus and decoded its genetic sequence (SN: 4/26/03, p. 262: Out of China: SARS virus’ genome hints at independent evolution).