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Miniopterus bat coronavirus HKU8 (Bat-CoV HKU8) is an enveloped, single-strandedpositive-senseRNA virus species in the genus Alphacoronavirus with a corona-like morphology. It causes severe acute respiratory syndrome in bats. Isolates have not been found in humans.
Genome
The coronaviruses are among the largest RNA viruses, with complex polyadenylated genomes of 26–32 kb, and are divided into four genera: alpha, beta, gamma, and deltacoronaviruses. The Alpha and betacoronaviruses are derived from the bat gene pool. There are at least four different, but closely related, Alphacoronaviruses (bat-CoV 1A, 1B, HKU7 and HKU8) circulating in bent-winged bats. Coronaviruses in bats are descended from a common ancestor and have been evolving in bats over a long period of time.
A significant percentage of newly emerging viruses are RNA viruses. It is believed this is due to the fact that RNA viruses have a much higher nucleotide mutation rate than DNA viruses.
Chu DK, Poon LL, Chan KH, Chen H, Guan Y, Yuen KY, Peiris JS..Coronaviruses in bent-winged bats (Miniopterus spp.). J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2461-6.
Chu DK, Peiris JS, Chen H, Guan Y, Poon LL. Genomic characterizations of bat coronaviruses (1A, 1B and HKU8) and evidence for co-infections in Miniopterus bats..J Gen Virol. 2008 May;89(Pt 5):1282-7. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.83605-0.
Chu, David K.W., Peiris, J.S. Malik, and Poon, Leo, L.M. Novel Coronaviruses and Astroviruses in Bats. Virologica Sinica. April 2009, 24(2): 100-104.
Wikispecies