Just published: Two new studies on the novel coronavirus. All Lancet #coronavirus content is fully and freely available at our 2019-nCoV Resource Centre thelancet.com/coronavirus 
Paper 1: A new genetic analysis of 10 genome sequences of novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from 9 patients in Wuhan finds that the virus is most closely related to two bat-derived SARS-like coronaviruses thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lanc…
The study reports epidemiological data of 9 patients diagnosed with viral pneumonia of unidentified cause. The authors took samples from patients’ lungs to harvest samples of 2019-nCoV virus, which they analysed to determine virus origin & how it enters human cells
The authors found 2019-nCoV in all 10 genetic samples taken from patients – including 8 complete genomes & 2 partial genomes. Genetic sequences were nearly identical which indicates a very recent emergence of the virus into humans
Comparing the 2019-nCoV genetic sequence with a library of viruses, the authors found that the most closely related viruses were two SARS-like coronaviruses of bat origin – bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZXC21 – which shared 88% of the genetic sequence
Studying the virus spike protein, the authors found that 2019-nCoV & human SARS virus have similar structures, despite small differences. The authors suggest 2019-nCoV might use the same molecular doorway to enter the cells as SARS (receptor ACE2), but this requires confirmation
Paper 2: New analysis of 99 patients with laboratory-confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus who were transferred to Jinyintan Hospital, an adult infectious disease hospital admitting the first 2019-nCoV cases from hospitals across Wuhan, between Jan 1 & 20 thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lanc…
Most patients were middle-aged (average age 55.5 y) and male (67 pts). Around half had a history of exposure to the Huanan seafood market (49 pts)—46 of whom worked at the market as managers or salespeople
Half of cases (50) occurred in people w/ underlying chronic diseases. All patients admitted had pneumonia—most in both lungs (74 pts). Most had fever (82 pts), cough (81) & a third shortness of breath (31). 5 critically ill patients had coinfections with bacteria (1) & fungi (4)
Most patients were treated with antivirals (75 patients), antibiotics (70) & oxygen therapy (75), and had a good prognosis. 17 patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 11 of whom died of multiple organ failure
The authors point out that while this is the largest study of its kind larger studies including patients from other cities and countries are needed to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of this novel #coronavirus marlin-prod.literatumonline.com/pb-assets/Lanc…
