Genomic structure and taxonomic classification
Based on classification criteria of the International committee on Taxonomy of viruses (ICTV), SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV represent two novel distinc coronaviruses species in the genus Betacoronavirus. Members of betacoronaviruses are seperated into four lineages, A, B, C and D. SARS-CoV and MERSCoV are clustered in lineage B and C, respectively