Open main menuWikipediaSearchPhotograph your local culture, help Wikipedia and win!HideCoronavirusArticle TalkLanguageDownload PDFWatchEditThis article is about the group of viruses. For the disease involved in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, see COVID-19. For the virus that causes this disease, see SARS-CoV-2.Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the common cold (which is also caused by other viruses, predominantly rhinoviruses), while more lethal varieties can cause SARS, MERS and COVID-19, which is causing the ongoing pandemic. In cows and pigs they cause diarrhea, while in mice they cause hepatitis and encephalomyelitis.OrthocoronavirinaeGroup member SARS-CoV-2Group member SARS-CoV-2Blue: lipid bilayer envelopeLight blue: spike (S) glycoproteinRed: envelope (E) proteinsGreen: membrane (M) proteins .Orange: glycanVirus classificatione(unranked):VirusRealm:RiboviriaKingdom:OrthornaviraePhylum:PisuviricotaClass:PisoniviricetesOrder:NidoviralesFamily:CoronaviridaeSubfamily:OrthocoronavirinaeGenera[1]AlphacoronavirusBetacoronavirusGammacoronavirusDeltacoronavirusSynonyms[2][3]CoronavirinaeCoronaviruses constitute the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, in the family Coronaviridae, order Nidovirales and realm Riboviria.[3][4] They are enveloped viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome and a nucleocapsid of helical symmetry.[5] The genome size of coronaviruses ranges from approximately 26 to 32 kilobases, one of the largest among RNA viruses.[6] They have characteristic club-shaped spikes that project from their surface, which in electron micrographs create an image reminiscent of the stellar corona, from which their name derives.[7]EtymologyHistoryMicrobiologyClassificationOriginInfection in humansInfection in animalsPrevention and treatmentSee alsoReferencesFurther readingLast edited 16 days ago by GreenC botWikipediaContent is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.Privacy policy Terms of UseDesktop