Virus species names have been standardized; virus names remain unchanged

F. Murilo Zerbini; Peter Simmonds; Evelien M. Adriaenssens; Elliot J. Lefkowitz; Hanna M. Oksanen; Poliane Alfenas-Zerbini; Frank O. Aylward; Juliana Freitas-Astúa; Holly R. Hughes; Małgorzata Łobocka; Mart Krupovic; Jens H. Kuhn; Arcady Mushegian; Judit J. Penzes; Alejandro Reyes; David L. Robertson; Simon Roux; Luisa Rubino; Sead Sabanadzovic; Donald B. Smith; Nobuhiro Suzuki; Dann Turner; Koenraad Van Doorslaer; Arvind Varsani

doi:10.1128/msphere.00020-25

Virus species names have been standardized; virus names remain unchanged

F. Murilo Zerbini, Peter Simmonds, Evelien M. Adriaenssens, Elliot J. Lefkowitz, Hanna M. Oksanen, Poliane Alfenas-Zerbini, Frank O. Aylward, Juliana Freitas-Astúa, Holly R. Hughes, Małgorzata Łobocka, Mart Krupovic, Jens H. Kuhn, Arcady Mushegian, Judit J. Penzes, Alejandro Reyes, David L. Robertson, Simon Roux, Luisa Rubino, Sead Sabanadzovic, Donald B. SmithNobuhiro Suzuki, Dann Turner, Koenraad Van Doorslaer, Arvind Varsani

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Virus taxonomy, comprising classification and nomenclature, is regulated by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Taxon names are standardized to facilitate recognition and communication, with defined suffixes for each rank (e.g., the names of orders, families, and genera end in -virales, -viridae, and -virus, respectively). However, until recently, a standard format for species names was lacking. In 2021, following extensive discussion and community consultation, the ICTV decided to adopt a standardized binomial (Linnaean) format for virus species names, consisting of the genus name followed by a "freeform" species epithet. Previously assigned virus species names that were non-compliant with the binomial format have been fully updated. In contrast to taxon names regulated by the ICTV, the names of viruses, or "common" names, such as yellow fever virus or human immunodeficiency virus, are not under the remit of the ICTV and have not been changed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	e0002025
Journal	mSphere
Volume	10
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00020-25
State	Published - May 27 2025

Keywords

diversity
evolution
nomenclature
taxonomy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Microbiology
Molecular Biology

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10.1128/msphere.00020-25

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Zerbini, F. M., Simmonds, P., Adriaenssens, E. M., Lefkowitz, E. J., Oksanen, H. M., Alfenas-Zerbini, P., Aylward, F. O., Freitas-Astúa, J., Hughes, H. R., Łobocka, M., Krupovic, M., Kuhn, J. H., Mushegian, A., Penzes, J. J., Reyes, A., Robertson, D. L., Roux, S., Rubino, L., Sabanadzovic, S., ... Varsani, A. (2025). Virus species names have been standardized; virus names remain unchanged. mSphere, 10(5), e0002025. https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00020-25

Zerbini, FM, Simmonds, P, Adriaenssens, EM, Lefkowitz, EJ, Oksanen, HM, Alfenas-Zerbini, P, Aylward, FO, Freitas-Astúa, J, Hughes, HR, Łobocka, M, Krupovic, M, Kuhn, JH, Mushegian, A, Penzes, JJ, Reyes, A, Robertson, DL, Roux, S, Rubino, L, Sabanadzovic, S, Smith, DB, Suzuki, N, Turner, D, Van Doorslaer, K & Varsani, A 2025, 'Virus species names have been standardized; virus names remain unchanged', mSphere, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. e0002025. https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00020-25

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AU - Zerbini, F. Murilo

AU - Simmonds, Peter

AU - Adriaenssens, Evelien M.

AU - Lefkowitz, Elliot J.

AU - Oksanen, Hanna M.

AU - Alfenas-Zerbini, Poliane

AU - Aylward, Frank O.

AU - Freitas-Astúa, Juliana

AU - Hughes, Holly R.

AU - Łobocka, Małgorzata

AU - Krupovic, Mart

AU - Kuhn, Jens H.

AU - Mushegian, Arcady

AU - Penzes, Judit J.

AU - Reyes, Alejandro

AU - Robertson, David L.

AU - Roux, Simon

AU - Rubino, Luisa

AU - Sabanadzovic, Sead

AU - Smith, Donald B.

AU - Suzuki, Nobuhiro

AU - Turner, Dann

AU - Van Doorslaer, Koenraad

AU - Varsani, Arvind

PY - 2025/5/27

Y1 - 2025/5/27

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Virus species names have been standardized; virus names remain unchanged

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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