Embecovirus is a subgenus of coronaviruses in the genus Betacoronavirus.[1] The viruses in this subgenus, unlike other coronaviruses, have a hemagglutinin esterase (HE) gene.[2] The viruses in the subgenus were previously known as group 2a coronaviruses.[3][4]
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.[5] Unlike other coronaviruses, viruses in this subgenus also have an additional shorter spike-like structural protein called hemagglutinin esterase (HE).[2][6]
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.[7] Contributing to this diversity are several recombination events that had taken place in the past between closely related Beta-CoVs of the subgenus Embecovirus.[7]