Binomial nomenclature for virus species: a consultation.
Stuart G Siddell, Peter J Walker, Elliot J Lefkowitz, Arcady R Mushegian, Bas E Dutilh, Balázs Harrach, Robert L Harrison, Sandra Junglen, Nick J Knowles, Andrew M Kropinski, Mart Krupovic, Jens H Kuhn, Max L Nibert, Luisa Rubino, Sead Sabanadzovic, Peter Simmonds, Arvind Varsani, Francisco Murilo Zerbini, Andrew J Davison
Author Information
Stuart G Siddell: School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK. ORCID
Peter J Walker: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. ORCID
Elliot J Lefkowitz: Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), BBRB 276, 845 19th ST South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-2170, USA. ORCID
Arcady R Mushegian: Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22314, USA. ORCID
Bas E Dutilh: Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Room N-604, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands. ORCID
Balázs Harrach: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungária krt. 21, Budapest, 1143, Hungary. ORCID
Robert L Harrison: Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Bldg 007 BARC-West, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA. ORCID
Sandra Junglen: Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany. ORCID
Nick J Knowles: The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK. ORCID
Andrew M Kropinski: Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada. ORCID
Mart Krupovic: Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75015, Paris, France. ORCID
Jens H Kuhn: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Research, Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA. ORCID
Max L Nibert: Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Ave Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. ORCID
Luisa Rubino: Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, CNR, Sede Secondaria di Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy. ORCID
Sead Sabanadzovic: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, 100 Old Hwy 12 Mail Stop 9775, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA. ORCID
Peter Simmonds: Nuffield Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK. ORCID
Arvind Varsani: The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874701, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4701, USA. ORCID
Francisco Murilo Zerbini: Departamento de Fitopatologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil. ORCID
Andrew J Davison: MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Sir Michael Stoker Building, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK. andrew.davison@glasgow.ac.uk. ORCID
The Executive Committee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recognizes the need for a standardized nomenclature for virus species. This article sets out the case for establishing a binomial nomenclature and presents the advantages and disadvantages of different naming formats. The Executive Committee understands that adopting a binomial system would have major practical consequences, and invites comments from the virology community before making any decisions to change the existing nomenclature. The Executive Committee will take account of these comments in deciding whether to approve a standardized binomial system at its next meeting in October 2020. Note that this system would relate only to the formal names of virus species and not to the names of viruses.
