nomenclature: formal- Linneas scheme of family, genus,
& species individual virus identification must be unambiguous:
ICTV oversees & catalogues; international specialty
groups & agencies establish designations [ATCC,
WHO] Systematics: ICTV established systematic organization
& keying scheme universal virus database [ICTVdb]: expected to
be complete before the end of the decade [except for
ongoing new entries] "Name That Virus" game: Introduction to primary
characteristics & keying schemes for viruses- Be sure
to bring your CRC book; other materials will be handed
out Characteristics not important taxonomically: pathology
& cytopathic effects- several unrelated viruses may
cause same or similar effects Next up: Non-enveloped [+] strand RNA viruses .
Taxonomy: ICTV- International Committee on Taxonomy
of Virusesworking to standardize nomenclature
E.g.: Family Poxviridae, subfamily
Chordopoxvirinae, genus Orthopoxvirus,
vaccinia virus
informal- "the pox family", "poxviruses"
"Universal System of Virus Taxonomy"
-assignment of families, subfamilies, genera,
species
-only one order established so far:
Mononegavirales
Summary of significant criteria:DNA/RNA; ss or ds; +/- reverse transcriptase;
+/-/ambisense [RNA]
linear/circular/segmented genome; genomic size
host type; helical/cubic/bisymmetric; +/-
envelope/peplomers
virion size; filamentous/rod/spherical; specific
enzymes/proteins
type of ORF/transcription/translation; type of budding
[envelope]
+/- vector & type of vectorclosely related viruses may cause very different
effects
same virus may cause very different effects in different
hosts or host cells
Essentials to know on specific viruses:structure of virion; genomic structure &
major gene products
replication strategy; transcription/translation
strategy
assembly/release characteristics; unique
characteristics
prototype or representative virus
where appropriate: transmission; host[s];
path/cytopath; diseases; symptoms; diagnosis; treatment;
useful applications
Updated 1/25/04 by thatcher@sonoma.edu