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Virus classification

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Virus classification is the process of naming viruses and placing them into a taxonomic system. Similar to the classification systems used for cellular organisms, virus classification is the subject of ongoing debate and proposals. This is mainly due to the pseudo-living nature of viruses, which are not yet definitively classified as living or non-living. As such, they do not fit neatly into the established biological classification system in place for cellular organisms.

Viruses are mainly classified by phenotypic characteristics, such as morphology, nucleic acid type, mode of replication, host organisms, and the type of disease they cause. Currently there are two main schemes used for the classification of viruses: the ICTV system and Baltimore classification system, which places viruses into one of seven groups. Accompanying this broad method of classification are specific naming conventions and further classification guidelines set out by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.

ICTV classification

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses began to devise and implement rules for the naming and classification of viruses early in the 1990s, an effort that continues to the present day. The ICTV is the only body charged by the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) with the task of developing, refining, and maintaining a universal virus taxonomy. The system shares many features with the classification system of cellular organisms, such as taxon structure. Viral classification starts at the level of order and follows as thus, with the taxon suffixes given in italics:

Order (-virales)
Family (-viridae)
Subfamily (-virinae)
Genus (-virus)
Species

So far, six orders have been established by the ICTV: the Caudovirales, Herpesvirales, Mononegavirales, Nidovirales, Picornavirales, and Tymovirales. These orders span viruses with varying host ranges. Caudovirales are tailed dsDNA (group I) bacteriophages, Herpesvirales contains large eukaryotic dsDNA viruses, Mononegavirales includes non-segmented (-) strand ssRNA (Group V) plant and animal viruses, Nidovirales is composed of (+) strand ssRNA (Group IV) viruses with vertebrate hosts, Picornavirales contains small (+) strand ssRNA viruses that infect a variety of plant, insect, and animal hosts, and Tymovirales contains monopartite ssRNA viruses that infect plants. Other variations occur between the orders, for example, Nidovirales are isolated for their differentiation in expressing structural and non-structural proteins separately. However, this system of nomenclature differs from other taxonomic codes on several points. A minor point is that names of orders and families are italicized, as in the ICBN.[1] Most notably, species names generally take the form of [Disease] virus. The establishment of an order is based on the inference that the virus families contained within a single order have most likely evolved from a common ancestor. The majority of virus families remain unplaced. Currently (2009) 6 orders, 87 families, 19 subfamilies, 348 genera, and 2,288 species of virus have been defined.[2]

Baltimore classification

Main article: Baltimore classification
The Baltimore Classification of viruses is based on the method of viral mRNA synthesis

Baltimore classification (first defined in 1971) is a classification system that places viruses into one of seven groups depending on a combination of their nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), strandedness (single-stranded or double-stranded), Sense, and method of replication. Named after David Baltimore, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist, these groups are designated by Roman numerals and discriminate viruses depending on their mode of replication, and genome type. Other classifications are determined by the disease caused by the virus or its morphology, neither of which are satisfactory due to different viruses either causing the same disease or looking very similar. In addition, viral structures are often difficult to determine under the microscope. Classifying viruses according to their genome means that those in a given category will all behave in a similar fashion, offering some indication of how to proceed with further research. Viruses can be placed in one of the seven following groups:[3]


DNA viruses

Further information: DNA virus
  • Group I: viruses possess double-stranded DNA.
  • Group II: viruses possess single-stranded DNA.
Virus Family Examples (common names) Virion
naked/enveloped 		Capsid
Symmetry 		Nucleic acid type Group
1.Adenoviridae Adenovirus, Infectious canine hepatitis virus Naked Icosahedral ds I
2.Papillomaviridae Papillomavirus Naked Icosahedral ds circular I
3.Parvoviridae Parvovirus B19, Canine parvovirus Naked Icosahedral ss II
4.Herpesviridae Herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus Enveloped Icosahedral ds I
5.Poxviridae Smallpox virus, cow pox virus, sheep pox virus, orf virus, monkey pox virus, vaccinia virus Complex coats Complex ds I
6.Hepadnaviridae Hepatitis B virus Enveloped Icosahedral circular, partially ds VII
7.Polyomaviridae Polyoma virus; JC virus (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) Naked Icosahedral ds circular I
8.Anelloviridae Torque teno virus Naked Icosahedral ss circular II

RNA viruses

Further information: RNA virus
  • Group III: viruses possess double-stranded RNA genomes, e.g. rotavirus. These genomes are always segmented.
  • Group IV: viruses possess positive-sense single-stranded RNA genomes. Many well known viruses are found in this group, including the picornaviruses (which is a family of viruses that includes well-known viruses like Hepatitis A virus, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses, poliovirus, and foot-and-mouth virus), SARS virus, hepatitis C virus, yellow fever virus, and rubella virus.
  • Group V: viruses possess negative-sense single-stranded RNA genomes. The deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses are well known members of this group, along with influenza virus, measles, mumps and rabies.
Virus Family Examples (common names) Virion
naked/enveloped 		Capsid
Symmetry 		Nucleic acid type Group
1.Reoviridae Reovirus, Rotavirus Naked Icosahedral ds III
2.Picornaviridae Enterovirus, Rhinovirus, Hepatovirus, Cardiovirus, Aphthovirus, Poliovirus, Parechovirus, Erbovirus, Kobuvirus, Teschovirus, Coxsackie Naked Icosahedral ss IV
3.Caliciviridae Norwalk virus, Hepatitis E virus Naked Icosahedral ss IV
4.Togaviridae Rubella virus Enveloped Icosahedral ss IV
5.Arenaviridae Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus Enveloped Complex ss(-) V
6.Flaviviridae Dengue virus, Hepatitis C virus, Yellow fever virus Enveloped Icosahedral ss IV
7.Orthomyxoviridae Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B, Influenzavirus C, Isavirus, Thogotovirus Enveloped Helical ss(-) V
8.Paramyxoviridae Measles virus, Mumps virus, Respiratory syncytial virus, Rinderpest virus, Canine distemper virus Enveloped Helical ss(-) V
9.Bunyaviridae California encephalitis virus, Hantavirus Enveloped Helical ss(-) V
10.Rhabdoviridae Rabies virus Enveloped Helical ss(-) V
11.Filoviridae Ebola virus, Marburg virus Enveloped Helical ss(-) V
12.Coronaviridae Corona virus Enveloped Helical ss IV
13.Astroviridae Astrovirus Naked Icosahedral ss IV
14.Bornaviridae Borna disease virus Enveloped Helical ss(-) V
15.Arteriviridae Arterivirus, Equine Arteritis Virus Enveloped Icosahedral ss IV

Reverse transcribing viruses

Further information: Reverse transcribing virus

Holmes classification

Holmes (1948) used Carolus Linnaeus's system of binomial nomenclature to classify viruses into 3 groups under one order, Virales. They are placed as follows:

  • Group I: Phaginae (attacks bacteria)
  • Group II: Phytophaginae (attacks plants)
  • Group III: Zoophaginae (attacks animals)

LHT System of Virus Classification

The LHT System of Virus Classification is based on chemical and physical characters like nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), Symmetry (Helical or Icosahedral or Complex), presence of envelope, diameter of capsid, number of capsomers.[4] This classification was approved by the Provisional Committee on Nomenclature of Virus (PNVC) of the International Association of Microbiological Societies (1962).[citation needed] It is as follows:

  • Phylum Vira (divided into 2 subphyla)
  • Subphylum Deoxyvira (DNA viruses)
  • Class Deoxybinala (dual symmetry)
  • Order Urovirales
  • Family Phagoviridae
  • Class Deoxyhelica (Helical symmetry)
  • Order Chitovirales
  • Family Poxviridae
  • Class Deoxycubica (cubical symmetry)
  • Order Peplovirales
  • Family Herpesviridae (162 capsomeres)
  • Order Haplovirales (no envelope)
  • Family Iridoviridae (812 capsomeres)
  • Family Adenoviridae (252 capsomeres)
  • Family Papiloviridae (72 capsomeres)
  • Family Paroviridae (32 capsomeres)
  • Family Microviridae (12 capsomeres)
  • Subphylum Ribovira (RNA viruses)
  • Class Ribocubica
  • Order Togovirales
  • Family Arboviridae
  • Order Lymovirales
  • Family Napoviridae
  • Family Reoviridae
  • Class Ribohelica
  • Order Sagovirales
  • Family Stomataviridae
  • Family Paramyxoviridae
  • Family Myxoviridae
  • Order Rhabdovirales
  • Suborder Flexiviridales
  • Family Mesoviridae
  • Family Peptoviridae
  • Suborder Rigidovirales
  • Family Pachyviridae
  • Family Protoviridae
  • Family Polichoviridae

Subviral agents

The following agents are smaller than viruses but have some of their properties.

Viroids

Satellites

Satellites depend on co-infection of a host cell with a helper virus for productive multiplication. Their nucleic acids have substantially distinct nucleotide sequences from either their helper virus or host. When a satellite subviral agent encodes the coat protein in which it is encapsulated, it's then called a satellite virus.

Prions

Prions, named for their description as "proteinaceous and infectious particles," lack any detectable (as of 2002) nucleic acids or virus-like particles. They resist inactivation procedures that normally affect nucleic acids.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ The Virus Species Concept: Introduction Virus Taxonomy Online: Seventh Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. 2000. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
  2. ^ ICTV Virus Taxonomy 2009
  3. ^ "Baltimore Classification of Viruses" (Website.) Molecular Biology Web Book - http://web-books.com/. Retrieved on 2008-08-18.
  4. ^ Lwoff A, Horne R, Tournier P (1962). "A system of viruses". Cold Spring Harb. Symp. Quant. Biol. 27: 51–5. PMID 13931895. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "80.001 Popsiviroidae - ICTVdB Index of Viruses." (Website.) U.S. National Institutes of Health website. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
  6. ^ "80.002 Avsunviroidae - ICTVdB Index of Viruses." (Website.) U.S. National Institutes of Health website. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
  7. ^ "81. Satellites - ICTVdB Index of Viruses." (Website.) U.S. National Institutes of Health website. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
  8. ^ "90. Prions - ICTVdB Index of Viruses." (Website.) U.S. National Institutes of Health website. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.

See also

Wikispecies has information related to Virus.
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