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Virus classification
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.
ICTV classification
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
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Tymovirales. These orders span viruses with varying host
ranges. Caudovirales are tailed dsDNA (group I)
bacteriophages, Herpesviralescontains 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
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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]
I: dsDNA
viruses (e.g. Adenoviruses, Herpesviruses, Poxviruses)
II: ssDNA viruses (+)sense DNA (e.g. Parvoviruses)
III: dsRNA viruses (e.g. Reoviruses)
IV: (+)ssRNA viruses (+)sense RNA
(e.g. Picornaviruses, Togaviruses)
V: (−)ssRNA viruses (−)sense RNA
(e.g. Orthomyxoviruses, Rhabdoviruses)
VI: ssRNA-RT viruses (+)sense RNA with DNA intermediate in
life-cycle (e.g. Retroviruses)
VII: dsDNA-RT viruses (e.g. Hepadnaviruses)
[edit]DNA viruses
For more details on this topic, see DNA virus.
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athy)
RNA viruses
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Holmes classification
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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). It is as
follows:
Order Urovirales
Family Phagoviridae
Order Chitovirales
Family Poxviridae
Order Peplovirales
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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
Family Pospiviroida
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Genus Pospiviroid; type species: Potato spindle
tuber viroid
Genus Hostuviroid; type species: Hop stunt viroid
Genus Cocadviroid; type species: Coconut cadang-
cadang viroid
Genus Apscaviroid; type species: Apple scar skin
viroid
Genus Coleviroid; type species: Coleus blumei
viroid 1
Family Avsunviroidae
Genus Avsunviroid; type species: Avocado
sunblotch viroid
Genus Pelamoviroid; type species: Peach latent
mosaic viroid
Genus Elaviroid; type species: Eggplant latent
viroid
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.
Satellite viruses
Single-stranded RNA satellite viruses
Subgroup 1: Chronic bee-paralysis satellite virus
Subgroup 2: Tobacco necrosis satellite virus
Satellite nucleic acids
Single-stranded satellite DNAs
Double-stranded satellite RNAs
Single-stranded satellite RNAs
Subgroup 1: Large satellite RNAs
Subgroup 2: Small linear satellite RNAs
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Subgroup 3: Circular satellite RNAs (virusoids)
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]
Mammalian prions:
Agents of spongiform encephalopathies
Fungal prions:
PSI+ prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
URE3 prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
RNQ/PIN+ prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Het-s prion of Podospora anserina
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