Encapsidation of the coronavirus replication-transcription complex

It is currently accepted that, unlike that in negative-strand RNA viruses, the RTC in positive-strand RNA viruses generally is not incorporated into viral particles. However, recent studies based on proteomic, biochemical, and immunoelectron microscopy assays reported the presence of RdRp, nsp2, nsp3, and nsp8 in TGEV particles and nsp2, nsp3, and nsp5 in SARS-CoV particles. These data suggest that the RTC might be encapsidated in coronaviruses.