Embecovirus

Embecovirus is a subgenus of coronaviruses in the genus Betacoronavirus. The viruses in this subgenus, unlike other coronaviruses, have a hemagglutinin esterase (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 Betacoronavirus hongkongense, Human coronavirus HKU1 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 (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 hemagglutinin esterase (HE).

Recombination

Genetic recombination can occur when two or more viral genomes are present in the same host cell. The dromedary 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.

See also

Sarbecovirus (group 2b) Merbecovirus (group 2c) Nobecovirus (group 2d)

References