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We recently summarized the evidence that implicates a novel coronavirus as the cause of SARS (Journal Watch Apr 11 2003 and Journal Watch May 16 2003). In particular, previous reports have fulfilled 3 of Koch's postulates: (1) the virus can be isolated from diseased hosts; (2) it can be grown in host cells; and (3) it can infect tissue after passing through a filter that does not allow transit of microorganisms that are larger than viruses.
A new report from an international team shows that the remaining 3 of Koch's postulates have been fulfilled as well: (4) the virus can produce disease in a related species (macaque monkeys); (5) a strain that is genetically identical to the infecting strain can be reisolated from infected monkeys; and (6)…