General Microbiology & Biochemistry

I-Unit
Virus classification
Virus classification is the process of naming viruses and placing them into
a taxonomic system. Similar to the classification systems used for cellular
organisms, virus classification is the subject of ongoing debate and
proposals. This is mainly due to the pseudo-living nature of viruses, which
are not yet definitively classified as living or non-living. As such, they do
not fit neatly into the established biological classification system in place
for cellular organisms.

Viruses are mainly classified by phenotypic characteristics, such

as morphology, nucleic acid type, mode of replication, host organisms, and
the type of disease they cause. Currently there are two main schemes used
for the classification of viruses: the ICTV system and Baltimore
classification system, which places viruses into one of seven groups.
Accompanying this broad method of classification are specific naming
conventions and further classification guidelines set out by
the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.

ICTV classification

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses began to devise and

implement rules for the naming and classification of viruses early in the
1990s, an effort that continues to the present day. The ICTV is the only
body charged by the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS)
with the task of developing, refining, and maintaining a universal virus
taxonomy. The system shares many features with the classification system
of cellular organisms, such as taxon structure. Viral classification starts at
the level of order and follows as thus, with the taxon suffixes given in
italics:

Order (-virales)

Family (-viridae)

Subfamily (-virinae)

Genus (-virus)

Species
So far, six orders have been established by the ICTV: the Caudovirales,
Herpesvirales, Mononegavirales, Nidovirales, Picornavirales, and

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Tymovirales. These orders span viruses with varying host
ranges. Caudovirales are tailed dsDNA (group I)
bacteriophages, Herpesviralescontains large eukaryotic dsDNA
viruses, Mononegavirales includes non-segmented (-) strand ssRNA (Group
V) plant and animal viruses,Nidovirales is composed of (+) strand ssRNA
(Group IV) viruses with vertebrate hosts, Picornavirales contains small (+)
strand ssRNA viruses that infect a variety of plant, insect, and animal hosts,
and Tymovirales contains monopartite ssRNA viruses that infect plants.
Other variations occur between the orders, for example, Nidovirales are
isolated for their differentiation in expressing structural and non-structural
proteins separately. However, this system of nomenclature differs from
other taxonomic codes on several points. A minor point is that names of
orders and families are italicized, as in the ICBN.[1] Most notably, species
names generally take the form of [Disease] virus. The establishment of an
order is based on the inference that the virus families contained within a
single order have most likely evolved from a common ancestor. The
majority of virus families remain unplaced. Currently (2009) 6 orders, 87
families, 19 subfamilies, 348 genera, and 2,288 species of virus have been
defined[2].

Baltimore classification

The Baltimore Classification of viruses is based on the method of

viral mRNA synthesis

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Baltimore classification (first defined in 1971) is a classification system
that places viruses into one of seven groups depending on a
combination of their nucleic acid(DNA or RNA), strandedness (single-
stranded or double-stranded), Sense, and method of replication. Named
after David Baltimore, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist, these groups are
designated by Roman numerals and discriminate viruses depending on
their mode of replication, and genome type. Other classifications are
determined by the disease caused by the virus or its morphology,
neither of which are satisfactory due to different viruses either causing
the same disease or looking very similar. In addition, viral structures
are often difficult to determine under the microscope. Classifying
viruses according to their genome means that those in a given
category will all behave in a similar fashion, offering some indication of
how to proceed with further research. Viruses can be placed in one of
the seven following groups:[3]

 I: dsDNA
viruses (e.g. Adenoviruses, Herpesviruses, Poxviruses)
 II: ssDNA viruses (+)sense DNA (e.g. Parvoviruses)
 III: dsRNA viruses (e.g. Reoviruses)
 IV: (+)ssRNA viruses (+)sense RNA
(e.g. Picornaviruses, Togaviruses)
 V: (−)ssRNA viruses (−)sense RNA
(e.g. Orthomyxoviruses, Rhabdoviruses)
 VI: ssRNA-RT viruses (+)sense RNA with DNA intermediate in
life-cycle (e.g. Retroviruses)
 VII: dsDNA-RT viruses (e.g. Hepadnaviruses)

[edit]DNA viruses
For more details on this topic, see DNA virus.

 Group I: viruses possess double-stranded DNA.

 Group II: viruses possess single-stranded DNA.

Virus Family Examples Virion Capsid Nucle Gro

(common naked/envel Symme ic

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names) oped try acid up

type

[Link] Adenovirus, Naked Icosahed ds I

e Infectious canine ral
hepatitis virus

[Link] Papillomavirus Naked Icosahed ds I

idae ral circula
r

[Link] Parvovirus B19, Naked Icosahed ss II

Canine ral
parvovirus

[Link] Herpes simplex Enveloped Icosahed ds I

ae virus, varicella- ral
zoster virus,
cytomegalovirus,
Epstein-Barr
virus

[Link] Smallpox virus, Complex Complex ds I

cow pox virus, coats
sheep pox virus,
orf virus,
monkey pox
virus, vaccinia
virus

[Link] Hepatitis B virus Enveloped Icosahed circula VII

dae ral r,
partial
ly ds

[Link] Polyoma virus; Naked Icosahed ds I

dae JC virus ral circula
(progressive r
multifocal
leukoencephalop

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athy)

[Link] Torque teno Naked Icosahed ss II

e virus ral circula
r

RNA viruses

 Group III: viruses possess double-stranded RNA genomes,

e.g. rotavirus. These genomes are always segmented.
 Group IV: viruses possess positive-sense single-stranded RNA
genomes. Many well known viruses are found in this group, including
thepicornaviruses (which is a family of viruses that includes well-
known viruses like Hepatitis A virus, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses,
poliovirus, and foot-and-mouth virus), SARS virus, hepatitis
C virus, yellow fever virus, and rubella virus.
 Group V: viruses possess negative-sense single-stranded RNA
genomes. The deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses are well known
members of this group, along with influenza
virus, measles, mumps and rabies.

Virus Examples (common names) Virion Ca N G

Famil naked psi uc ro
y /envel d lei u
oped Sy c p
m ac
me id
try ty
p
e

[Link] Reovirus, Rotavirus Naked Icos ds III

iridae ahe
dral

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[Link] Enterovirus, Rhinovirus, Hepatovirus, Cardiovir Naked Icos ss IV

navirid us, Aphthovirus,Poliovirus, Parechovirus, Erbov ahe
ae irus, Kobuvirus, Teschovirus,Coxsackie dral

[Link] Norwalk virus, Hepatitis E virus Naked Icos ss IV

ivirida ahe
e dral

[Link] Rubella virus Envelo Icos ss IV

viridae ped ahe
dral

[Link] Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus Envelo Co ss V

avirida ped mpl (-)
e ex

[Link] Dengue virus, Hepatitis C virus, Yellow fever Envelo Icos ss IV

viridae virus ped ahe
dral

[Link] Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus Envelo Heli ss V

omyxo B, Influenzavirus C, Isavirus,Thogotovirus ped cal (-)
viridae

[Link] Measles virus, Mumps virus, Respiratory Envelo Heli ss V

myxov syncytial virus, Rinderpest virus, Canine ped cal (-)
iridae distemper virus

[Link] California encephalitis virus, Hantavirus Envelo Heli ss V

yavirid ped cal (-)
ae

[Link] Rabies virus Envelo Heli ss V

abdovi ped cal (-)
ridae

[Link] Ebola virus, Marburg virus Envelo Heli ss V

viridae ped cal (-)

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[Link] Corona virus Envelo Heli ss IV

onaviri ped cal
dae

[Link] Astrovirus Naked Icos ss IV

rovirid ahe
ae dral

[Link] Borna disease virus Envelo Heli ss V

navirid ped cal (-)
ae

[Link] Arterivirus, Equine Arteritis Virus Envelo Icos ss IV

eriviri ped ahe
dae dral

Reverse transcribing viruses

For more details on this topic, see Reverse transcribing virus.

 Group VI: viruses possess single-stranded RNA genomes and

replicate using reverse transcriptase. The retroviruses are included
in this group, of which HIV is a member.
 Group VII: viruses possess double-stranded DNA genomes and
replicate using reverse transcriptase. The hepatitis B virus can be
found in this group.

Holmes classification

Holmes (1948) used Carolus Linnaeus's system of binomial

nomenclature to classify viruses into 3 groups under one order, Virales.
They are placed as follows:

 Group I: Phaginae (attacks bacteria)

 Group II: Phytophaginae (attacks plants)
 Group III: Zoophaginae (attacks animals)

LHT System of Virus Classification

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The LHT System of Virus Classification is based on chemical and
physical characters like nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), Symmetry (Helical
or Icosahedral or Complex), presence of envelope, diameter of capsid,
number of capsomers.[4] This classification was approved by the
Provisional Committee on Nomenclature of Virus (PNVC) of the
International Association of Microbiological Societies (1962). It is as
follows:

 Phylum Vira (divided into 2 subphyla)

 Subphylum Deoxyvira (DNA viruses)

 Class Deoxybinala (dual symmetry)

 Order Urovirales

 Family Phagoviridae

 Class Deoxyhelica (Helical symmetry)

 Order Chitovirales

 Family Poxviridae

 Class Deoxycubica (cubical symmetry)

 Order Peplovirales

 Family Herpesviridae (162 capsomeres)

 Order Haplovirales (no envelope)

 Family Iridoviridae (812 capsomeres)

 Family Adenoviridae (252 capsomeres)
 Family Papiloviridae (72 capsomeres)
 Family Paroviridae (32 capsomeres)
 Family Microviridae (12 capsomeres)

 Subphylum Ribovira (RNA viruses)

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 Class Ribocubica

 Order Togovirales

 Family Arboviridae

 Order Lymovirales

 Family Napoviridae
 Family Reoviridae

 Class Ribohelica

 Order Sagovirales

 Family Stomataviridae
 Family Paramyxoviridae
 Family Myxoviridae

 Order Rhabdovirales

 Suborder Flexiviridales

 Family Mesoviridae
 Family Peptoviridae

 Suborder Rigidovirales

 Family Pachyviridae
 Family Protoviridae
 Family Polichoviridae

Subviral agents

The following agents are smaller than viruses but have some of
their properties.

Viroids

 Family Pospiviroida

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 Genus Pospiviroid; type species: Potato spindle
tuber viroid
 Genus Hostuviroid; type species: Hop stunt viroid
 Genus Cocadviroid; type species: Coconut cadang-
cadang viroid
 Genus Apscaviroid; type species: Apple scar skin
viroid
 Genus Coleviroid; type species: Coleus blumei
viroid 1
 Family Avsunviroidae
 Genus Avsunviroid; type species: Avocado
sunblotch viroid
 Genus Pelamoviroid; type species: Peach latent
mosaic viroid
 Genus Elaviroid; type species: Eggplant latent
viroid

Satellites
Satellites depend on co-infection of a host cell with a helper
virus for productive multiplication. Their nucleic acids have
substantially distinct nucleotide sequences from either their
helper virus or host. When a satellite subviral agent encodes
the coat protein in which it is encapsulated, it's then called a
satellite virus.

 Satellite viruses
 Single-stranded RNA satellite viruses
 Subgroup 1: Chronic bee-paralysis satellite virus
 Subgroup 2: Tobacco necrosis satellite virus
 Satellite nucleic acids
 Single-stranded satellite DNAs
 Double-stranded satellite RNAs
 Single-stranded satellite RNAs
 Subgroup 1: Large satellite RNAs
 Subgroup 2: Small linear satellite RNAs

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 Subgroup 3: Circular satellite RNAs (virusoids)

Prions
Prions, named for their description as "proteinaceous
and infectious particles," lack any detectable (as of 2002)
nucleic acids or virus-like particles. They resist inactivation
procedures that normally affect nucleic acids.[8]

 Mammalian prions:
 Agents of spongiform encephalopathies

 Fungal prions:
 PSI+ prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
 URE3 prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
 RNQ/PIN+ prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
 Het-s prion of Podospora anserina

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