Virus taxonomy and megataxonomy (Vira domain) - current status
D K Lvov1,2, V G Akimkin2, A D Zaberezhny3
1D.I. Ivanovsky institute of virology of N.F Gamaleya national research center on epidemiology and microbiology of Ministry of health of Russian Federation.
Voprosy Virusologii
|November 25, 2025
Summary
Viruses infect all life on Earth and have diversified over 3.5 billion years. Advances in sequencing technologies are driving reforms in virus classification, impacting biological security and epidemic response.
Area of Science:
- Virology and evolutionary biology
- Microbial ecology and bioinformatics
Background:
- Viruses have co-evolved with all life forms for over 3.5 billion years, contributing to the vast diversity of the virosphere.
- The informal viral domain 'Vira' encompasses viruses infecting archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes.
- Understanding viral diversity is crucial for comprehending biosphere evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the impact of high-throughput sequencing technologies on viral taxonomy.
- To discuss the ongoing reform of viral classification, including the introduction of megataxonomy.
- To underscore the importance of viral taxonomy for biological security and epidemic preparedness.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical and current data on viral diversity and classification.
- Analysis of the influence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) on virosphere research.
- Examination of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) taxonomic framework.
Main Results:
- The ICTV currently recognizes 15 taxonomic ranks, with significant numbers of realms, kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
- Viral taxonomy has been reformed since 2018 with the introduction of higher ranks (megataxonomy) due to accumulated data.
- Ongoing advances in metagenomics and metatranscriptomics will continue to shape viral taxonomy.
Conclusions:
- The evolving field of viral taxonomy is fundamental for understanding life's evolution.
- Developments in viral classification are critical for enhancing biological security.
- Accurate viral taxonomy aids in mitigating the impact of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.
Keywords:
ICTV (International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses)domain Viraglobal virosphere ecologymegataxonomyvirospherevirus taxonomyMore Related Videos
08:56Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
Published on: July 27, 2018
11.5K
09:27A Rapid Strategy for the Isolation of New Faustoviruses from Environmental Samples Using Vermamoeba vermiformis
Published on: June 4, 2016
8.1K
Related Concept Videos
01:29Modern Molecular Taxonomy
554
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
554
01:20Applications of Molecular Taxonomy
489
Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...
489
01:29Viruses of Archaea
429
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
429
01:31Taxonomy
84.2K
Taxonomy is the science of defining and naming groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. It uses a hierarchy of increasingly inclusive categories with Latin names. The smallest units of taxonomy, species and genus, are used to assign a formal, taxonomic name to each species in a system. This classification system, referred to as binomial nomenclature, was formalized by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century.
Hierarchy of Taxonomy
The hierarchy that Carolus Linnaeus first...
Hierarchy of Taxonomy
The hierarchy that Carolus Linnaeus first...
84.2K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
765
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
765
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
632
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
632