ICTVs

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) is the global authority responsible for the formal naming and hierarchical classification of viruses. Its primary role is to develop, maintain, and update a universal taxonomy that is used by the virology community and related fields.

Governance and process: The ICTV operates as a committee under the auspices of the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS). It is guided by elected officers and consists of virus taxonomy study groups that propose changes to classification. Proposed taxonomic revisions are reviewed by the appropriate study groups and ratified by ICTV members. The taxonomy updates are published and made available to the scientific community, ensuring widespread adoption and consistency.

Taxonomic framework: The ICTV taxonomy organizes viruses into a hierarchical structure that, in general, includes realms, phyla, classes, orders, families, subfamilies, genera, and species. Each taxon follows naming conventions established by the ICTV, and official taxonomy releases are issued periodically. Comprehensive treatments of the taxonomy are published in ICTV Reports, and current classifications are maintained on the ICTV website.

Data and criteria: Taxonomic decisions are based on a combination of data, including genome organization and sequence relationships, replication mechanisms, morphology, host range, and phylogenetic analyses. Demarcation criteria for species and higher taxa are updated as new scientific information becomes available, reflecting advances in sequencing and comparative genomics.

Impact: The ICTV taxonomy provides a standardized framework for identifying, naming, and discussing viruses. It supports clear communication in research, diagnostics, public health, and policy, and serves as the reference point for virus nomenclature across the scientific community.