lecture 3

Question 1

Baltimore classification system

Answer 1

• viruses are classified into one of seven groups depending on combination of their nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), strandedness (single or double stranded), sense, and method of replication
• old system, not currently used

Question 2

International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) classification system

Answer 2

• followed by virologists worldwide
• only body charged by International Union of Microbiological Societies with take of developing, refining, and maintaining universal virus taxonomy
• currently used to classify viruses

Question 3

Factors ICTV considers in the classification of viruses

Answer 3

• nature of the virus genome and virus genetic diversity
• virus replication strategies
• virus morphology

Question 4

ICTV classification system

Answer 4

• order (ends with suffix virales)
• family (ends with suffix viridae)
• subfamily (ends with suffix virinae)
• genus (ends with suffix virus)
• species