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Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers

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Published on: March 8, 2012

The Species Problem in Virology.

Marc H V Van Regenmortel¹

¹School of Biotechnology, CNRS, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.

Advances in Virus Research

|March 20, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Current virus classification methods are inadequate, as defining a virus species requires multiple properties, not single nucleotide sequences. The 2013 definition is flawed, hindering accurate virus identification and classification.

Keywords:

Linnaean classification hierarchy Non-Latinized binomial species names Polythetic class Viral taxonomy Virus identification Virus species

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Area of Science:

Virology
Taxonomy
Bioinformatics

Background:

Virus classification relies on conceptual species classes.
Defining a virus species requires multiple defining properties, not a single characteristic.
Existing definitions may not accurately differentiate between virus species and genera.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the appropriateness of the current 2013 virus species definition.
To analyze the suitability of nucleotide motifs as species-defining properties.
To critique virus classification systems based solely on nucleotide sequences.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of virus species definition.
Evaluation of species-defining properties in viral classification.
Critique of polythetic vs. monothetic classification in virology.

Main Results:

A single species-defining property is insufficient for defining a virus species.
The 2013 definition is inappropriate as it applies to both species and genera.
Nucleotide motifs are not valid species-defining properties for establishing new virus species.
Classification based solely on nucleotide sequences classifies genomes, not viruses.

Conclusions:

The current virus classification system requires revision.
Accurate virus species definition necessitates a polythetic approach considering multiple properties.
Reliance on nucleotide sequences alone is insufficient for robust viral taxonomy.