Name: Reg No: Year: Branch: Course Name: Course Code: Title of Seminar

Name:J.M.
KISTO
Reg no:119012101361
Year:II year B.Tech
Branch:Bio-Technology
Course Name:microbiology
Course code:XBT304
Title of seminar:classification of
viruses
Classification of Viruses:
 Viruses can be classified primarily on their phenotypic characteristics, core
content, chemical composition, capsid structure, size, shape, genome structure and
modes of replication.
 The Baltimore classification is the most commonly used for studying the system
of virus classification. This system was developed by an American biologist
David Baltimore in the 1970s, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize.
 The below flowchart describes the classification of viruses based on their different
criteria

Classification based on the presence of nucleic acid:
DNA virus
 The virus, having DNA as its genetic material. There are two different types of DNA virus
 Single-stranded (ss) DNA virus: e.g. Picornaviruses, Parvovirus, etc.

 Double-stranded (ds) DNA virus: e.g. Adenovirus, Herpes virus, etc.

RNA virus
 The virus, having RNA as its genetic material. There are two different types of RNA virus
 Double-stranded (ds) RNA virus: e.g. Reovirus, etc.
 Single-stranded (ss) RNA virus. It is further classified into two Positive sense RNA (+RNA) and negative sense RNA
(-RNA). Poliovirus, Hepatitis A, Rabies virus, Influenza virus are examples of single-stranded RNA
Classification based on the structure or symmetry:
 Complex virus. E.g Poxvirus

 Radial symmetry virus. E.g.Bacteriophage
 Cubical or icosahedral symmetry shaped virus. E.g. Reovirus, Picornavirus
 Rod or Spiral shaped or helical symmetry virus.E.g. Paramyxovirus,
orthomyxovirus
Classification based on the replication properties and site of
replication:
 Here, viruses invade into the host cell, where it replicates and assembly within the
cell organelles.
 Replication within the cytoplasm of the host cell.E.g. All RNA viruses except the
Influenza virus.
 Replication within the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the host cell.E.g. Influenza
virus, Poxvirus, etc.
 Replication within the nucleus of the host cell.All DNA viruses except Pox virus.
 Replication of the virus through the double-stranded DNA intermediate.E.g. All
DNA viruses, Retrovirus and some tumour causing RNA virus.
 Replication of the virus through a single-stranded RNA intermediate.E.g. All RNA
viruses except Reovirus and tumour-causing RNA viruses.
Classification based on the host range:
 Based on the type of host, there are four different types of viruses:
 Animal viruses
These viruses infect by invading the cells of animals, including humans. Prominent examples of animal viruses include the influenza virus, mumps virus, rabies
virus, poliovirus, Herpes virus, etc.
 Plant viruses
These viruses infect plants by invading the plant cells. Well-known examples of plant virus include the potato virus, tobacco mosaic virus, beet yellow virus, and
turnip yellow virus, cauliflower mosaic virus, etc.

 Bacteriophage
The virus which infects bacterial cells is known as bacteriophage. There are many varieties of bacteriophages, such as DNA virus, MV-11, RNA virus, λ page,
etc.

 Insect virus
The virus which infects insects is known as Insect virus, also called the viral pathogen of insects. These viruses are considered as a powerful biocontrol agent in
the landscape of modern agriculture. Ascovirus virions and Entomopox virus, are best examples for insect virus.
Classification based on the mode of transmission:
 Airborne infections – Transmission of the virus through the air into the respiratory tract. E.g. Swine flu,
and Rhinovirus.
 Fecal oral route – Transmission of the virus through the contaminated water or food.E.g. Hepatitis A
virus, Poliovirus, Rotavirus.
 Sexually transmitted diseases – Transmission of the virus through sexual contacts with the infected
person. E.g. Retrovirus, human papillomavirus, etc.
 Transfusion-transmitted infections- Transmission of the virus through the blood transfusion.E.g.
Hepatitis B virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, etc.
 Zoonoses -Transmission of the virus through the biting of infected animals, birds, and insects to human.
E.g. Rabies virus, Alpha virus, Flavivirus, Ebola virus,etc.
On the Basis of Shapes of the Viruses
 Most of the animal viruses are roughly spherical with some exceptions.
 Rabies virus: Bullet shaped
 Ebola virus: Filamentous shaped
 Poxvirus: Brick shaped
 Adenovirus: Space vehicle shaped
Baltimore Classification
 Group I viruses contain double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) as their genome. Their mRNA is produced by transcription in much the
same way as with cellular DNA.
 Group II viruses have single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as their genome. They convert their single-stranded genomes into a dsDNA
intermediate before transcription to mRNA can occur.
 Group III viruses use dsRNA as their genome. The strands separate, and one of them is used as a template for the generation of
mRNA using the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase encoded by the virus.
 Group IV viruses have ssRNA as their genome with a positive polarity. Positive polarity means that the genomic RNA can serve
directly as mRNA. Intermediates of dsRNA, called replicative intermediates, are made in the process of copying the genomic
RNA. Multiple, full-length RNA strands of negative polarity (complementary to the positive-stranded genomic RNA) are formed
from these intermediates, which may then serve as templates for the production of RNA with positive polarity, including both
full-length genomic RNA and shorter viral mRNAs.
 Group V viruses contain ssRNA genomes with a negative polarity, meaning that their sequence is complementary to the mRNA.
As with Group IV viruses, dsRNA intermediates are used to make copies of the genome and produce mRNA. In this case, the
negative-stranded genome can be converted directly to mRNA. Additionally, full-length positive RNA strands are made to serve
as templates for the production of the negative-stranded genome.
 Group VI viruses have diploid (two copies) ssRNA genomes that must be converted, using the enzyme reverse transcriptase, to
dsDNA; the dsDNA is then transported to the nucleus of the host cell and inserted into the host genome. Then, mRNA can be
produced by transcription of the viral DNA that was integrated into the host genome.
 Group VII viruses have partial dsDNA genomes and make ssRNA intermediates that act as mRNA, but are also converted back

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 Single-stranded (ss) DNA virus: e.g. Picornaviruses, Parvovirus, etc.

 Double-stranded (ds) RNA virus: e.g. Reovirus, etc.

 Complex virus. E.g Poxvirus

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