Virus species and virus identification: past and current controversies

Abstract

The basic concepts used in virus classification are analyzed. A clear distinction is drawn between viruses that are real, concrete objects studied by virologists and virus species that are man-made taxonomic constructions that exist only in the mind. Classical views regarding the nature of biological species are reviewed and the concept of species used in virology is explained. The use of pair-wise sequence comparisons between the members of a virus family for delineating species and genera is reviewed. The difference between the process of virus identification using one or a few diagnostic properties and the process of creating virus taxa using a combination of many properties is emphasized. The names of virus species in current use are discussed as well as a binomial system that may be introduced in the future.