We next aligned the sequence of HCoV - NL63 with the complete genomes of other coronaviruses . The percentage nucleotide identity was determined for each gene and is listed in Table 2 . All genes except the M gene shared the highest identity with HCoV-229E. To confirm that HCoV - NL63 is a new member of the group 1 coronaviruses , we conducted phylogenetic analysis using the nucleotide sequence of the 1a , 1b , S , M and N genes ( Fig . 4b ) . For each gene analyzed , HCoV - NL63 clustered with the group 1 coronaviruses . The 1a , 1b and S genes of HCoV - NL63 are most closely related to those of HCoV-229E. However , further inspection revealed a subcluster of HCoV - NL63 , HCoV-229E and PEDV . Phylogenetic analysis could not be performed for the ORF3 and E genes because the regions were too variable or too small for analysis , respectively . Bootscan analysis by the Simplot software version 2.5 ( ref . 28 ) found no signs of recombination ( data not shown ) .