''Embecovirus'' is a
subgenus
In biology, a subgenus (plural: 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 betw ...
of
coronaviruses in the genus ''
Betacoronavirus''.
The viruses in this subgenus, unlike other
coronaviruses, 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. Viru ...
(HE) gene.
The viruses in the subgenus were previously known as group 2a coronaviruses.
Structure
The viruses of this subgenus, like other coronaviruses, have a lipid bilayer
envelope
An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin, flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card.
Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one of three shapes: a rhombus, a ...
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. ...
(M),
envelope
An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin, flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card.
Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one of three shapes: a rhombus, a ...
(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
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. Viru ...
(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 eukary ...
can occur when two or more viral
genome
In the fields of molecular biology and genetics, 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 ...
s are present in the same host cell. The
dromedary camel beta-coronavirus (Beta-CoV HKU23) exhibits genetic diversity in the
African camel
The dromedary (''Camelus dromedarius'' or ;), also known as the dromedary camel, Arabian camel, or one-humped camel, is a large even-toed ungulate, of the genus ''Camelus'', with one hump on its back.
It is the tallest of the three species o ...
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
{{Taxonbar, from=Q57754667
Virus subgenera
Betacoronaviruses