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Bacteriophage Taxonomy: An Evolving Discipline.

Igor Tolstoy1, Andrew M Kropinski2,3,4, J Rodney Brister1

  • 1National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20894, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|November 10, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteriophage taxonomy has shifted from morphology to a holistic approach using DNA and protein identity. This evolution, driven by genomic data, is leading to new viral classifications and higher taxonomic orders.

Keywords:
DNA sequence homologyICTVMorphologyNCBITaxonomy

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Microbiology
  • Taxonomy

Background:

  • Bacteriophage taxonomy has historically relied on morphology, with key contributions from researchers like David Bradley and Hans-Wolfgang Ackermann.
  • The field has transitioned towards a more comprehensive classification system for prokaryotic viruses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the evolution of bacteriophage taxonomy.
  • To highlight the current comprehensive approach to classifying viruses by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee.
  • To discuss the impact of increasing genomic data on viral taxonomy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of historical and current methodologies in bacteriophage classification.
  • Evaluation of DNA and protein identity metrics for taxonomic decisions.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to determine viral relationships.

Main Results:

  • Bacteriophage taxonomy has evolved from morphology-based to a holistic approach.
  • The ICTV Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee employs a comprehensive strategy using DNA/protein identity and phylogeny.
  • The abundance of public genomic data is driving a reassessment of viral taxonomy.

Conclusions:

  • The current holistic approach to bacteriophage taxonomy integrates multiple data types for robust classification.
  • The ongoing influx of genomic data necessitates revisions and the potential establishment of new viral families and higher taxonomic ranks.
  • Bacteriophage taxonomy is a dynamic field crucial for understanding viral diversity and evolution.