Classification of HHV-6A and HHV-6B as distinct viruses

Ablashi, D. et al. (2014) Classification of HHV-6A and HHV-6B as distinct viruses. Archives of Virology, 159(5), pp. 863-870. (doi: 10.1007/s00705-013-1902-5) (PMID:24193951) (PMCID:PMC4750402)

Abstract

Shortly after the discovery of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), two distinct variants, HHV-6A and HHV-6B, were identified. In 2012, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) classified HHV-6A and HHV-6B as separate viruses. This review outlines several of the documented epidemiological, biological, and immunological distinctions between HHV-6A and HHV-6B, which support the ICTV classification. The utilization of virus-specific clinical and laboratory assays for distinguishing HHV-6A and HHV-6B is now required for further classification. For clarity in biological and clinical distinctions between HHV-6A and HHV-6B, scientists and physicians are herein urged, where possible, to differentiate carefully between HHV-6A and HHV-6B in all future publications.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clark, Dr Duncan
• Authors: Ablashi, D., Agut, H., Alvarez-Lafuente, R., Clark, D. A., Dewhurst, S., DiLuca, D., Flamand, L., Frenkel, N., Gallo, R., Gompels, U. A., Höllsberg, P., Jacobson, S., Luppi, M., Lusso, P., Malnati, M., Medveczky, P., Mori, Y., Pellett, P. E., Pritchett, J. C., Yamanishi, K., and Yoshikawa, T.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Archives of Virology
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0304-8608
• ISSN (Online): 1432-8798
• Published Online: 06 November 2013