Binomial nomenclature for virus species: a long view
- PDF / 597,427 Bytes
- 5 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 42 Downloads / 201 Views
VIROLOGY DIVISION NEWS
Binomial nomenclature for virus species: a long view Adrian Gibbs1 Received: 9 May 2020 / Accepted: 31 August 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract On several occasions over the past century it has been proposed that Latinized (Linnaean) binomial names (LBs) should be used for the formal names of virus species, and the opinions expressed in the early debates are still valid. The use of LBs would be sensible for the current Taxonomy if confined to the names of the specific and generic taxa of viruses of which some basic biological properties are known (e.g. ecology, hosts and virions); there is no advantage in filling the literature with formal names for partly described viruses or virus-like gene sequences. The ICTV should support the time-honoured convention that LBs are only used with biological (phylogenetic) classifications. Recent changes have left the ICTV Taxonomy and its Code uncoordinated, and its aims and audience uncertain.
Introduction The Executive Committee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV-EC) recently invited comments on a proposal to approve a standard binomial system of formal virus names [25]. How best to name and classify viruses have been constantly aired topics for discussion since viruses were first discovered at the end of the 19th century, and particularly when the number and diversity of viruses was realized early in the 20th. It was clear that an orderly system of nomenclature was required. So why has it taken so long to resolve the issues? Can anything be learned from earlier discussion? I believe they can, as opinions expressed early in this debate are still valid and indicate why it has taken so long, and also indicate how it can be resolved. The earliest attempts to name and classify viruses were mostly individual efforts [4, 20], and the viruses of animals, bacteria and plants were discussed separately, but a watershed was reached when Holmes [14] published “The Filterable Viruses” as Supplement 2 to the 6th Edition of Bergey’s ‘Manual of Determinative Bacteriology’. It was an attempt to establish parallel systems of nomenclature for the viruses of bacteria, plants and animals using Latinized (Linnaean) binomials (LBs).
Handling Editor: Sead Sabanadzovic. * Adrian Gibbs [email protected] 1
Emeritus Faculty, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
One result was a meeting of the Society of General Microbiology (UK) to discuss the issues, and as Christopher Andrewes noted in his contribution,”The organizers of this discussion have very sensibly placed me, as representing sound common sense, between the two extremists, Drs Holmes and Bawden. Dr Holmes wants to start classifying and naming viruses on Linnaean lines right away. Dr Bawden is almost certain to advise you to have nothing to do with any such proceeding”. Holmes [15] pressed the need for nomenclatural continuity, which, he claimed, would be provided by LBs. Andrewes [2] mostly criticized the details of
Data Loading...
