SARS Explained

SARS emerged in 2002 as a novel and severe respiratory illness, challenging previous assumptions about coronaviruses, which were thought to only cause mild symptoms. The ability of SARS to infect the lower respiratory tract, specifically the lungs, sets it apart from other coronaviruses, which typically remain in the upper respiratory system. Understanding how viruses bind to cell receptors is crucial in explaining their infection patterns and organ tropism.