embecovirus 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. embecovirus murine coronavirus (mhv) virion electron micrograph, schematic structure, and genome. virus classification (unranked): virus realm: riboviria kingdom: orthornavirae phylum: pisuviricota class: pisoniviricetes order: nidovirales family: coronaviridae genus: betacoronavirus subgenus: embecovirus species betacoronavirus 1 china rattus coronavirus hku24 human coronavirus hku1 murine coronavirus myodes coronavirus 2jl14 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. contributing to this diversity are several recombination events that had taken place in the past between closely related beta-covs of the subgenus embecovirus.