Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jun 2021)

Proposal for Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Nomenclature below the Species Level

  • Vahid Salimi,
  • Mariana Viegas,
  • Alfonsina Trento,
  • Charles N. Agoti,
  • Larry J. Anderson,
  • Vasanthi Avadhanula,
  • Justin Bahl,
  • Louis Bont,
  • J. Rodney Brister,
  • Patricia A. Cane,
  • Mónica Galiano,
  • Barney S. Graham,
  • Eneida L. Hatcher,
  • Orienka Hellferscee,
  • David M. Henke,
  • Siddhivinayak Hirve,
  • Sandra Jackson,
  • Els Keyaerts,
  • Leyla Kragten-Tabatabaie,
  • Stephen Lindstrom,
  • Inne Nauwelaers,
  • D. James Nokes,
  • Peter J. Openshaw,
  • Teresa C. Peret,
  • Pedro A. Piedra,
  • Kaat Ramaekers,
  • Annabel Rector,
  • Nídia Sequeira Trovão,
  • Anne von Gottberg,
  • Maria Zambon,
  • Wenqing Zhang,
  • Thomas C. Williams,
  • Ian G. Barr,
  • Ursula J. Buchholz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2706.204608
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 6
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the leading viral cause of serious pediatric respiratory disease, and lifelong reinfections are common. Its 2 major subgroups, A and B, exhibit some antigenic variability, enabling HRSV to circulate annually. Globally, research has increased the number of HRSV genomic sequences available. To ensure accurate molecular epidemiology analyses, we propose a uniform nomenclature for HRSV-positive samples and isolates, and HRSV sequences, namely: HRSV/subgroup identifier/geographic identifier/unique sequence identifier/year of sampling. We also propose a template for submitting associated metadata. Universal nomenclature would help researchers retrieve and analyze sequence data to better understand the evolution of this virus.

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