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PMID: 20204430 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Clarification and guidance on the proper usage of virus and virus species names.

Archives of virology ·Vol. 155 ·No. 4 ·2010-04-00 ·Pages 445-53

Kuhn JH, Jahrling PB

Abstract

A pivotal step in the development of a consistent nomenclature for virus classification was the introduction of the virus species concept by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) in 1991. Yet, almost two decades later, many virologists still are unable to differentiate between virus species and actual viruses. Here we attempt to explain the origin of this confusion, clarify the difference between taxa and physical entities, and suggest simple measures that could be implemented by ICTV Study Groups to make virus taxonomy and nomenclature more accessible to laboratory virologists.

MeSH Terms
Classification/methods Terminology as Topic Viruses/classification
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Kuhn Jens H
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. kuhnjens@mail.nih.gov
Jahrling Peter B
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Article Info
Journal
Archives of virology
Abbr.
Arch Virol
ISSN
1432-8798
DOI
10.1007/s00705-010-0600-9
Email
kuhnjens@mail.nih.gov
Published
2010-04-00
Epub
2010-00-04
Pages
445-53
Language
English
Region
Austria
NLM ID
7506870
PMCID
PMC2878132
Subset
IM
Grants
Intramural NIH HHS · Z01 AI001025-02 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s00705-010-0600-9 PMC Full Text View journal details
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