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Review on Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses

Received: 31 March 2023     Accepted: 23 April 2023     Published: 10 May 2023
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Abstract

Viruses are subcellular, infectious, non-living creatures that can only replicate and metabolize inside the cells of living hosts. Virus taxonomy is the classification of viruses into categories called taxa. The classification and nomenclature recently gained importance due to the exponentially increasing number of new viruses discovered. Hence the current review on classification and nomenclature of virus aimed to provide sufficient and updated information to readers. Current virus classification is increasingly performed using more complex phylogenetic approaches that move researchers closer to a rudimentary understanding of the origin, evolution, relatedness, and diversification of viruses. In the taxonomic hierarchy of virus, the highest taxa are real and the lowest rank is species. To categorize viruses, phenotypic traits like morphology, nucleic acid type, and mechanism of replication, host organisms, and the sort of disease they cause are taken into consideration. Mostly based on 1. Classical- e.g. Animal, plant, or bacterial virus system- e.g. Naked or enveloped virus. 2. Genomic-Baltimore classification by seven categories: I: dsDNA viruses (e.g. Adeno viruses, Herpes viruses, Pox viruses) II: ssDNA viruses (+ strand or "sense") DNA (e.g. Parvo viruses) III: dsRNA viruses (e.g. Reo viruses) IV: (+) ssRNA viruses (+ strand or sense) RNA (e.g. Corona viruses, Picorna viruses, Toga viruses) V: (−) ssRNA viruses (− strand or antisense) RNA (e.g. Orthomyxo viruses, Rhabdo viruses). VI: ssRNA-RT viruses (+ strand or sense) RNA with DNA intermediate in life-cycle (e.g. Retro viruses). VII: dsDNA-RT viruses DNA with RNA intermediate in life-cycle (e.g. Hepadna viruses). 3. Serology (a corona virus). There isn't a standardized format for virus species names yet, in contrast to the binomial nomenclature used for cellular species. The ICTV now requires that a species name comprise as few words as possible while still being distinct, and must not merely contain the term virus and the host. By responding to a series of questions based on contrasting traits, a species can be identified using the dichotomous key method.

Published in American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajls.20231102.11
Page(s) 11-23
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Classification, Dichotomous Key, Hierarchy, Nomenclature, Taxonomy, Virus

References
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    Solomon Bimrew, Merkuz Abera. (2023). Review on Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses. American Journal of Life Sciences, 11(2), 11-23. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20231102.11

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    Solomon Bimrew; Merkuz Abera. Review on Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses. Am. J. Life Sci. 2023, 11(2), 11-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20231102.11

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    Solomon Bimrew, Merkuz Abera. Review on Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses. Am J Life Sci. 2023;11(2):11-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20231102.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajls.20231102.11,
      author = {Solomon Bimrew and Merkuz Abera},
      title = {Review on Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses},
      journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {2},
      pages = {11-23},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20231102.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20231102.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20231102.11},
      abstract = {Viruses are subcellular, infectious, non-living creatures that can only replicate and metabolize inside the cells of living hosts. Virus taxonomy is the classification of viruses into categories called taxa. The classification and nomenclature recently gained importance due to the exponentially increasing number of new viruses discovered. Hence the current review on classification and nomenclature of virus aimed to provide sufficient and updated information to readers. Current virus classification is increasingly performed using more complex phylogenetic approaches that move researchers closer to a rudimentary understanding of the origin, evolution, relatedness, and diversification of viruses. In the taxonomic hierarchy of virus, the highest taxa are real and the lowest rank is species. To categorize viruses, phenotypic traits like morphology, nucleic acid type, and mechanism of replication, host organisms, and the sort of disease they cause are taken into consideration. Mostly based on 1. Classical- e.g. Animal, plant, or bacterial virus system- e.g. Naked or enveloped virus. 2. Genomic-Baltimore classification by seven categories: I: dsDNA viruses (e.g. Adeno viruses, Herpes viruses, Pox viruses) II: ssDNA viruses (+ strand or "sense") DNA (e.g. Parvo viruses) III: dsRNA viruses (e.g. Reo viruses) IV: (+) ssRNA viruses (+ strand or sense) RNA (e.g. Corona viruses, Picorna viruses, Toga viruses) V: (−) ssRNA viruses (− strand or antisense) RNA (e.g. Orthomyxo viruses, Rhabdo viruses). VI: ssRNA-RT viruses (+ strand or sense) RNA with DNA intermediate in life-cycle (e.g. Retro viruses). VII: dsDNA-RT viruses DNA with RNA intermediate in life-cycle (e.g. Hepadna viruses). 3. Serology (a corona virus). There isn't a standardized format for virus species names yet, in contrast to the binomial nomenclature used for cellular species. The ICTV now requires that a species name comprise as few words as possible while still being distinct, and must not merely contain the term virus and the host. By responding to a series of questions based on contrasting traits, a species can be identified using the dichotomous key method.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Review on Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses
    AU  - Solomon Bimrew
    AU  - Merkuz Abera
    Y1  - 2023/05/10
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    AB  - Viruses are subcellular, infectious, non-living creatures that can only replicate and metabolize inside the cells of living hosts. Virus taxonomy is the classification of viruses into categories called taxa. The classification and nomenclature recently gained importance due to the exponentially increasing number of new viruses discovered. Hence the current review on classification and nomenclature of virus aimed to provide sufficient and updated information to readers. Current virus classification is increasingly performed using more complex phylogenetic approaches that move researchers closer to a rudimentary understanding of the origin, evolution, relatedness, and diversification of viruses. In the taxonomic hierarchy of virus, the highest taxa are real and the lowest rank is species. To categorize viruses, phenotypic traits like morphology, nucleic acid type, and mechanism of replication, host organisms, and the sort of disease they cause are taken into consideration. Mostly based on 1. Classical- e.g. Animal, plant, or bacterial virus system- e.g. Naked or enveloped virus. 2. Genomic-Baltimore classification by seven categories: I: dsDNA viruses (e.g. Adeno viruses, Herpes viruses, Pox viruses) II: ssDNA viruses (+ strand or "sense") DNA (e.g. Parvo viruses) III: dsRNA viruses (e.g. Reo viruses) IV: (+) ssRNA viruses (+ strand or sense) RNA (e.g. Corona viruses, Picorna viruses, Toga viruses) V: (−) ssRNA viruses (− strand or antisense) RNA (e.g. Orthomyxo viruses, Rhabdo viruses). VI: ssRNA-RT viruses (+ strand or sense) RNA with DNA intermediate in life-cycle (e.g. Retro viruses). VII: dsDNA-RT viruses DNA with RNA intermediate in life-cycle (e.g. Hepadna viruses). 3. Serology (a corona virus). There isn't a standardized format for virus species names yet, in contrast to the binomial nomenclature used for cellular species. The ICTV now requires that a species name comprise as few words as possible while still being distinct, and must not merely contain the term virus and the host. By responding to a series of questions based on contrasting traits, a species can be identified using the dichotomous key method.
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Author Information
  • Department of Plant Science, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia

  • Department of Plant Science, Bahirdar University, Bahirdar, Ethiopia

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