title: Virus species polemics: 14 senior virologists oppose a proposed change to the ICTV definition of virus species.
abstract: The Executive Committee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has recently decided to modify the current definition of virus species (Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature Rule 3.21) and will soon ask the full ICTV membership (189 voting members) to ratify the proposed controversial change. In this discussion paper, 14 senior virologists, including six Life members of the ICTV, compare the present and proposed new definition and recommend that the existing definition of virus species should be retained. Since the pros and cons of the proposal posted on the ICTV website are not widely consulted, the arguments are summarized here in order to reach a wider audience.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche de l'Ecole de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg, Boulevard Sébastien Brant, 67412 Illkirch cedex, France. vanregen@unistra.fr
authors.forename: Marc H V
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Van Regenmortel
authors.forename: Hans-Wolfgang
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Calisher
authors.forename: Ralf G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dietzgen
authors.forename: Marian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horzinek
authors.forename: Gunther M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.forename: Brian W J
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mahy
authors.forename: Giovanni P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: Bert K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Rima
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skern
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Vetten
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods*; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification*