Cytomegalovirus Taxonomy and Species Classification
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a complex group of viruses that fall under the broad family Orthoherpesviridae. These viruses are characterized by their ability to establish lifelong latent infections in their hosts. To understand how CMV relates to other well-known viruses, it is essential to look at its taxonomic placement within the herpesvirus family tree.
The Hierarchy of Herpesviruses
Within the family Orthoherpesviridae, CMV is classified under the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae. This subfamily also encompasses the genera Muromegalovirus and Roseolovirus, the latter of which includes human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7.
CMV is distantly related to other herpesviruses categorized into two other subfamilies: the Alphaherpesvirinae, which contains the varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, and the Gammaherpesvirinae, which includes Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and the Epstein–Barr virus.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Key Facts
- CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of the Orthoherpesviridae family.
- Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is scientifically designated as Human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5).
- The genus includes species that infect a wide range of mammals, primarily primates.
- Rodent cytomegaloviruses have been reclassified into the genus Muromegalovirus.
Species Diversity and Host Range
While Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most extensively studied, several other species of CMV infect various mammals. Primate CMV species are particularly diverse. For example, Chimpanzee cytomegalovirus (CCMV) infects both orangutans and chimpanzees and is known by the names Panine herpesvirus 2 (PaHV-2) and Pongine betaherpesvirus 4 (PoHV-4).
Other primate-specific viruses include Simian cytomegalovirus (SCCMV), also called Cercopithecine herpesvirus 5 (CeHV-5), and Rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV), known as Cercopithecine herpesvirus 8 (CeHV-8), both of which infect macaques. Additionally, two viruses found in the night monkey, Herpesvirus aotus 1 and Herpesvirus aotus 3, are tentatively placed within the CMV genus.
It is important to note a taxonomic shift regarding rodents. Viruses previously identified as cytomegaloviruses in rodents are now classified under the genus Muromegalovirus. This includes Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV), also known as Murid herpesvirus 1 (MuHV-1), and the rat-infecting Murid herpesvirus 2 (MuHV-2).
Detailed Species Classification
The genus Cytomegalovirus comprises a variety of species identified by both their scientific names and common names, as detailed in the table below.
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Cytomegalovirus aotinebeta1 | Aotine herpesvirus 1 |
| Cytomegalovirus cebinebeta1 | Cebine herpesvirus 1 |
| Cytomegalovirus cercopithecinebeta5 | Cercopithecine herpesvirus 5 |
| Cytomegalovirus humanbeta5 | Human cytomegalovirus |
| Cytomegalovirus macacinebeta3 | Rhesus cytomegalovirus |
| Cytomegalovirus macacinebeta8 | Cynomolgus macaque cytomegalovirus |
| Cytomegalovirus mandrillinebeta1 | Drill monkey cytomegalovirus |
| Cytomegalovirus paninebeta2 | Chimpanzee cytomegalovirus |
| Cytomegalovirus papiinebeta3 | Papiine herpesvirus 3 |
| Cytomegalovirus papiinebeta4 | Chacma baboon cytomegalovirus |
| Cytomegalovirus saimiriinebeta4 | Squirrel monkey cytomegalovirus |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name for Human cytomegalovirus?
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is scientifically known as Human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5) or Cytomegalovirus humanbeta5.
Which subfamily does CMV belong to?
CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily within the Orthoherpesviridae family.
Are rodent cytomegaloviruses still classified in the CMV genus?
No, rodent viruses previously called cytomegaloviruses, such as Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV), have been reclassified under the genus Muromegalovirus.
Which other viruses are in the same subfamily as CMV?
The Betaherpesvirinae subfamily also includes the genera Muromegalovirus and Roseolovirus (which includes human herpesvirus 6 and 7).
What are some examples of CMV species in non-human primates?
Examples include Chimpanzee cytomegalovirus (CCMV), Rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV), and Simian cytomegalovirus (SCCMV).