''Embecovirus'' is a

subgenus In biology, a subgenus ( subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the ge ...

coronavirus Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the comm ...

es in the genus '' Betacoronavirus''. The viruses in this subgenus, unlike other

es, have a

hemagglutinin esterase Hemagglutinin esterase (HEs) is a glycoprotein that certain enveloped viruses possess and use as an invading mechanism. HEs helps in the attachment and destruction of certain sialic acid receptors that are found on the host cell surface. V ...

(HE) gene. The viruses in the subgenus were previously known as group 2a coronaviruses.

Taxonomy

The subgenus contains the following species, listed by scientific name and followed by the exemplar virus of the species: * '' Betacoronavirus gravedinis'',

Human coronavirus OC43 Human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) is a member of the species ''Betacoronavirus 1, Betacoronavirus gravedinis'', which infects humans and cattle. The infecting coronavirus is an Viral envelope, enveloped, Sense (molecular biology), positive-sense ...

* ''Betacoronavirus hongkongense'',

Human coronavirus HKU1 Human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1, ''Betacoronavirus hongkonense'') is a species of coronavirus in humans and animals. It causes an upper respiratory disease with symptoms of the common cold, but can advance to pneumonia and bronchiolitis. It was ...

* ''Betacoronavirus muris'', Murine hepatitis virus * ''Betacoronavirus myodae'', Myodes rufocanus vole coronavirus 2/JL2014 * ''Betacoronavirus ratti'', Betacoronavirus HKU24

Structure

The viruses of this subgenus, like other coronaviruses, have a lipid bilayer envelope in which the

membrane A membrane is a selective barrier; it allows some things to pass through but stops others. Such things may be molecules, ions, or other small particles. Membranes can be generally classified into synthetic membranes and biological membranes. Bi ...

(M), envelope (E) and spike (S) structural proteins are anchored. Unlike other coronaviruses, viruses in this subgenus also have an additional shorter spike-like structural protein called

(HE).

Recombination

Genetic recombination Genetic recombination (also known as genetic reshuffling) is the exchange of genetic material between different organisms which leads to production of offspring with combinations of traits that differ from those found in either parent. In eukaryot ...

can occur when two or more viral

genome A genome is all the genetic information of an organism. It consists of nucleotide sequences of DNA (or RNA in RNA viruses). The nuclear genome includes protein-coding genes and non-coding genes, other functional regions of the genome such as ...

s are present in the same host cell. The

dromedary The dromedary (''Camelus dromedarius''), also known as the dromedary camel, Arabian camel and one-humped camel, is a large camel of the genus '' Camelus'' with one hump on its back. It is the tallest of the three camel species; adult males sta ...

camel beta-coronavirus (Beta-CoV HKU23) exhibits genetic diversity in the African camel population.Diversity of Dromedary Camel Coronavirus HKU23 in African Camels Revealed Multiple Recombination Events among Closely Related Betacoronaviruses of the Subgenus Embecovirus. So RTY, et al. J Virol. 2019. PMID 31534035 Contributing to this diversity are several recombination events that had taken place in the past between closely related Beta-CoVs of the subgenus Embecovirus.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q57754667 Virus subgenera Betacoronaviruses

Taxonomy

Structure

Recombination

See also

References