Genomic characterization of a newly discovered coronavirus associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome in humans

• Published in: mBio
• Main Authors: Boheemen, S. (Sander) van, Graaf, M.T. (Marieke) de, Lauber, C. (Chris), Bestebroer, T.M. (Theo), Raj, V.S. (Stalin), Zaki, A.M. (Ali), Osterhaus, A.D.M.E. (Albert), Haagmans, B.L. (Bart), Gorbalenya, A.E. (Alexander), Snijder, E.J. (Eric), Fouchier, R.A.M. (Ron)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Pipistrellus pipistrellus
• Online Access: http://repub.eur.nl/pub/68528; https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00473-12

A novel human coronavirus (HCoV-EMC/2012) was isolated from a man with acute pneumonia and renal failure in June 2012. This report describes the complete genome sequence, genome organization, and expression strategy of HCoV-EMC/2012 and its relation with known coronaviruses. The genome contains 30,119 nucleotides and contains at least 10 predicted open reading frames, 9 of which are predicted to be expressed from a nested set of seven subgenomic mRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis of the replicase gene of coronaviruses with completely sequenced genomes showed that HCoV-EMC/2012 is most closely related to Tylonycteris bat coronavirus HKU4 (BtCoV-HKU4) and Pipistrellus bat coronavirus HKU5 (BtCoV-HKU5), which prototype two species in lineage C of the genus Betacoronavirus. In accordance with the guidelines of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, and in view of the 75% and 77% amino acid sequence identity in 7 conserved replicase domains with BtCoVHKU4 and BtCoV-HKU5, respectively, we propose that HCoV-EMC/2012 prototypes a novel species in the genus Betacoronavirus. HCoV-EMC/2012 may be most closely related to a coronavirus detected in Pipistrellus pipistrellus in The Netherlands, but b