ICTVdefined

ICTVdefined is a designation used in virology to describe taxa, names, or descriptions that have been formally defined and ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). In practice, a taxon labeled ICTVdefined has passed through the ICTV's official taxonomic process and is recognized in the ICTV taxonomy, published in ICTV reports and on the ICTV website. The term distinguishes formally sanctioned taxa from informal, provisional, or colloquial usages.

Process and criteria for ICTVdefinition involve submissions by researchers or study groups, evaluation by ICTV Study Groups, and alignment with the existing taxonomy. Proposals are examined for consistency with current taxonomy and must meet criteria related to genome type and organization, replication strategy, virion morphology, phylogenetic relationships, host range, and ecological data. Proposals are debated and voted on by the ICTV Executive Committee and plenary members, with new taxa ratified at ICTV congresses or plenary sessions.

Governance and scope: The ICTV operates under the umbrella of the International Union of Microbiological Societies, with Study Groups providing input and an Executive Committee handling formal approvals. Taxonomic changes are published in the ICTV Taxonomy and the ICTV Reports, which are periodically updated to reflect new scientific knowledge.

Significance and usage: ICTVdefined taxa provide a stable reference for scientific communication, enabling consistent naming across journals, databases, and curricula. Because taxonomy evolves with new data, ICTVdefined designations may be revised or replaced as consensus changes.

For more information, see the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and its published taxonomy.