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