The current composition of ICTV
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Arch Virol 145/7 (2000)
Virology Division News
The current composition of ICTV M. A. Mayo1 and C. M. Fauquet2 2
1 Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, U.K. ILTAB/Danforth Plant Science Center, University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
Introduction The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has existed since 1966 to regulate virus taxonomy and nomenclature so as to reflect the wishes and the needs of the virological community [2, 4]. In order to do this, Reports are published at intervals, usually of 4 or so years [1, 5, 6]. These Reports bring together the changes to taxonomy made during the years following the previous Report and represent definitive statements about virus taxonomy at that time. Taxonomic decisions are made at intervals between, as well as at, Virology Congresses. For some of these, discussion papers have appeared in the Virology Division News section (VDN) of Archives of Virology before decisions were made. Also, following ICTV decisions, summary papers and some background papers have been published in VDN so as to inform virologists of the changes made. It is the policy of ICTV to engage as many as possible of the virologists who use the results of taxonomic decisions in the deliberations that lead to those decisions. This note is intended to further this aim by listing the people responsible for collating and judging opinions so as to make it more easy for virologists to contact ICTV. ICTV structure The membership of ICTV comprises 41 National Members, 12 Life Members, the 18 members of its Executive Committee (EC) and the members, currently 93, of its specialist Subcommittees. Decisions on taxonomic proposals are made by a poll of the EC, the Life Members and the National Members, either by post or at Plenary sessions held at the triennial International Congresses of Virology. The EC consists of 4 Officers, 8 Elected members and 6 Subcommittee Chairs. Each Subcommittee comprises the Chairs of its constituent Study Groups and, in some committees, some “at large” members who do not have specific responsibilities. Most taxonomic business originates in Study Groups that are asked to consider particular taxa. Thus in the six Subcommittees there are many (currently 87) Study Groups that contain more than 400 virologists. The roles of ICTV and its EC are laid down in Statutes approved by the Virology Division of IUMS and its activities are
Virology Division News
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regulated by an International Code of Taxonomy and Nomenclature [3] that is itself subject to amendment by ICTV. The Statutes also regulate the structure of ICTV. Turnover of the EC is laid down as most members can serve only 6 years in one position and for 12 consecutive years in any position on the EC. The Chairs of the Study groups also normally serve only for six years.
Table 1. National Members Argentina: Dr. Oscar Grau Australia: Dr. Ian H. Holmes Austria: Prof. D. Franz X. Heinz Bangladesh: Dr. (Col.) A. S. M. Matiur Rahman Belgium: Professor P.-P. Pastoret Brazil: Dr.
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