ICTVaccepted

ICTVaccepted is an informal designation used in virology to indicate that a virus taxon, its name, or its overall classification has been formally accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and is included in the current ICTV Taxonomy. The term is not an official label published by ICTV itself, but it is used in some scholarly works and biological databases to signal that a taxon has been officially recognized within the ICTV framework.

Background and role of ICTV

The ICTV is the global authority responsible for naming and classifying viruses. It maintains a formal taxonomy that is periodically updated through official releases. Taxonomic changes result from proposals that are reviewed by study groups and the ICTV Executive Committee, with acceptance leading to inclusion in the current taxonomy. Once a taxon is part of the ICTV Taxonomy, researchers and databases often rely on it as the authoritative reference for virus names and relationships.

Process and criteria

Acceptance typically follows a structured process: researchers submit Taxon Proposals detailing defining characteristics, phylogenetic justification, and alignment with ICTV rules. After review and consensus, approved proposals are incorporated into the ICTV Taxonomy in a release. The designation of status as ICTVaccepted is then used to indicate that a taxon has met these criteria and is recognized in the official taxonomy.

Usage and limitations

ICTVaccepted is primarily a communicative label used by databases and researchers to convey official status. It does not replace ICTV’s formal publication processes. The status can change with future ICTV releases, so users should consult the latest ICTV Taxonomy for the most current accepted names and classifications.

See also

ICTV, virus taxonomy, Taxonomy release, Taxon proposal.