''Merbecovirus'' 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 ...
of viruses in the genus ''
Betacoronavirus
''Betacoronavirus'' (β-CoVs or Beta-CoVs) is one of four genera (''Alphacoronavirus, Alpha''-, ''Beta-'', ''Gammacoronavirus, Gamma-'', and ''Deltacoronavirus (genus), Delta-'') of coronaviruses. Member viruses are Viral envelope, enveloped, p ...
'', including the human
pathogen
In biology, a pathogen (, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of"), in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a Germ theory of d ...
Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus
Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (MERS-CoV, ''Betacoronavirus cameli'') or EMC/2012 ( HCoV-EMC/2012), is the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). It is a species of coronavirus which infects humans, ba ...
(MERS-CoV).
The viruses in this subgenus were previously known as group 2c coronaviruses.
Taxonomy
The subgenus contains the following species, listed by scientific name and followed by the exemplar virus of the species:
* ''Betacoronavirus cameli'',
Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
* ''Betacoronavirus erinacei'',
Hedgehog coronavirus 1
* ''Betacoronavirus pipistrelli'',
Pipistrellus bat coronavirus HKU5
* ''Betacoronavirus tylonycteridis'',
Tylonycteris bat coronavirus HKU4
Structure
The viruses of this subgenus, like other
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, 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 (message), letter or Greeting card, card.
Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one o ...
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
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 (message), letter or Greeting card, card.
Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one o ...
(E) and
spike
Spike, spikes, or spiking may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Books
* ''The Spike'' (novel), a novel by Arnaud de Borchgrave
* ''The Spike'' (Broderick book), a nonfiction book by Damien Broderick
* ''The Spike'', a starship in Peter ...
(S) structural proteins are anchored.
See also
*''
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 cor ...
'' (group 2a)
*''
Sarbecovirus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV or SARS-CoV'', Betacoronavirus pandemicum'')The terms ''SARSr-CoV'' and ''SARS-CoV'' are sometimes used interchangeably, especially prior to the discovery of SARS-CoV-2. This m ...
'' (group 2b)
*''
Nobecovirus'' (group 2d)
References
Virus subgenera
Betacoronaviruses
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