Binomial nomenclature for virus species
For many years, proposals to use binomial names to name virus species have been debated among the virology community. In 2021, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) approved a uniform system of formal virus names which follows the binomial 'genus-species' format with or without Latinized species epithets. In the following months this new rule started to be implemented. As a result, names of 6 481 virus species (60% of species names recognized by ICTV) now follow this format. For example, the virus species which is causing rose rosette is now called Emaravirus rosae.
Useful Excel files can be found on the ICTV website:
- The master species list: https://ictv.global/msl
- Exemplar viruses for species: https://ictv.global/vmr
As a user of taxonomy, the EPPO Secretariat has started to implement these changes for virus names (mainly plant viruses) in the EPPO Global Database.
As of October 2022, changes have been made in the EPPO Global Database for species belonging to the following genera:
- Emaravirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1EMRAG
- Ophiovirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1OPHVG
- Alphachrysovirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1CHRVG
- Betachrysovirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1BCHVG
- Alphanucleorhabdovirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1ARHVG
- Betanucleorhabdovirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1BRHVG
- Cytorhabdovirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1CRHAG
- Dichorhavirus. https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1DICVG
- Gammanucleorhabdovirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1GRHVG
- Varicosavirus: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1VARIG
- Idaeovirus. https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/1IDAEG
Sources
Siddell SG, Walker PJ, Lefkowitz EJ et al. (2020) Binomial nomenclature for virus species: a consultation. Archives of Virology 165, 519–525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-019-04477-6
Walker PJ et al. (2022) Changes to virus taxonomy and to the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2021). Archives of Virology 166, 2633–2648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05156-1
Walker PJ et al. (2022) Recent changes to virus taxonomy ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Archives of Virology 167, 2429–2440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-022-05516-5