Classification of orbiviruses: a need for supergroups of genera.

The article discusses the need for a reclassification of the orbiviruses into supergroups and genera in order to accurately represent their relationships. The authors suggest changing the status of current Reoviridae family genera to sub-families and then creating further divisions below that level.

Current Classification Problems

• The paper notes an issue with the current classification system for the Reoviridae family, and specifically the Orbivirus genus. This problem centers around the notion that the current system doesn’t accurately depict the relationships between the different sub-groups.

Suggested Updates to the Classification System

• Adjustments are proposed to align the classification with conventions set by the International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).
• Under this proposal, current Reoviridae genera get upgraded to sub-families, including: reovirinae, orbivirinae, Fijivirinae, cypovirinae, rotavirinae, coltivirinae, and phytoreovirinae.
• Beneath these sub-families, tiers of classification are recommended: genus (equivalent to superserogroup, serocomplex, or supergroup), sub-genus (equivalent to serogroup), species (equivalent to serotype or virus), and variant (equivalent to sub-serotype or genotype).
• In the orbivirinae sub-family, this would lead to identifying 2 main genera: cyanovirus (with sub-genera groups) and Kemerovovirus (with its own sub-genera).
• Furthermore, remaining viruses would be categorized into a number of ungrouped sub-genera.

Future Directions

• The authors express hope that more in-depth biochemical studies could confirm these proposed changes.
• They envision an evolved system that more accurately recognizes the relationships based on the double-stranded RNA gene product.