50 years of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses: progress and prospects

Abstract

We mark the 50th anniversary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) by presenting a brief history of the organization since its foundation, showing how it has adapted to advancements in our knowledge of virus diversity and the methods used to characterize it. We also outline recent developments, supported by a grant from the Wellcome Trust (UK), that are facilitating substantial changes in the operations of the ICTV and promoting dialogue with the virology community. These developments will generate improved online resources, including a freely available and regularly updated ICTV Virus Taxonomy Report. They also include a series of meetings between the ICTV and the broader community focused on some of the major challenges facing virus taxonomy, with the outcomes helping to inform the future policy and practice of the ICTV.

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Affiliated Institutions

• Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst GB
• Centre for Agricultural Research HU
• Medawar Building for Pathogen Research GB
• Harvard University US
• Arizona State University US
• University of Guelph CA
• Division of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences US
• Mississippi State University US
• Leiden University Medical Center NL
• University of Alabama at Birmingham US
• Universidade Federal de Viçosa BR
• Institute for Veterinary Medical Research HU
• Institut Pasteur FR
• MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research GB
• The Pirbright Institute GB
• University of Oxford GB
• Hungarian Academy of Sciences HU
• Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution GB
• U.S. National Science Foundation US
• University of Bristol GB
• University of Edinburgh GB
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada CA

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