Coronaviruses are highly pathogenic and therefore important human and veterinary pathogens viruses worldwide. Members of family Coronaviridae have previously been analysed phylogenetically, resulting in proposals of virus interrelationships. However, available Coronavirus phylogenies remain unrooted, based on limited sampling, and normally depend on a single method. The main subjects of this study are the taxonomy and systematics of coronaviruses and our goal is to build the first natural classification of Coronaviridae using several methods of cladistic analyses, Maximum Likelihood method, as well as rigorous taxonomic sampling, making the most accurate representation of Coronaviridae s relationships to date. Nomenclature recommendations to help effectively incorporate principles of binary nomenclature into Coronaviridae taxonomy are provided. We have stressed that no member of Sarbecovirus clade is an ancestor of SARS Cov 2, and humans are the only known host.

Coronaviruses are highly pathogenic and therefore important human and veterinary pathogens viruses worldwide. This study is the first that produced phylogenies based on all 39 species of Coronaviridae recognized by the Coronaviridae Study Group and International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses and has, uniquely, used several methods of cladistic analysis in combination with the Maximum Likelihood method. Resultant trees were utilized to test for monophyly of all available non-monotypic genera and infrageneric taxa of Coronaviridae. Monophyly was confirmed, thereby validating they are representative of a nature hierarchy. This study therefore presents the first natural hierarchical classification of Coronaviridae and the most accurate taxonomic representation of Coronaviridae’s relationships to date. The authors additionally seek at add to the current discussion regarding the nomenclature of viruses, demonstrating and supporting a “one-step” solution to incorporate the principles of binary nomenclature into Coronaviridae, which will aid future recognition of numerous virus species, particularly in currently monotypic subgenus Sarbecovirus. Commenting on the nature of SARS-CoV-2, the authors emphasize that no member of the Sarbecovirus clade is an ancestor of this virus, and humans are the only natural known host.

Taxonomic revisions using newly available molecular data can have profound consequences for identifying areas of high endemism and, therefore, high conservation priority. A good example of the connection between taxonomy, biodiversity ecology, and conservation issues is genus Phaeiris (Iris subsect. Hexagonae), an endemic taxon of the southeastern United States and in particular P. hexagona (I. hexagona) (Blue Flag), perhaps the best-known species of this genus. Some authors recently provided evidence for the need to revise the taxonomy of the Blue Flag, which has usually been considered to consist of a single species, P. hexagona. Using molecular and bioclimatic analyses of Blue Flags from Florida and Louisiana, collected at their loci classici, we challenge the notion that P. hexagona is a single species, referring to the almost forgotten taxonomic context of Phaeiris as established by John K. Small and Edward J. Alexander nearly 90 yr ago. Our vision of the P. hexagona complex reinforces the current treatment of Southern Coastal Plain as a biodiversity hotspot. Our results also argue for the complex nature of endemism on the Florida Peninsula, and elsewhere on the Southern Coastal Plain, including a new interpretation of the well-studied Louisiana irises. We also propose that the valleys of Florida rivers and lakes are likely to harbor additional hidden biodiversity. Accurate taxonomy proved to be a heuristic tool to characterize better the actual level of biodiversity within Southern Coastal Plain as well as to describe the different areas endemism. The newly re-documented taxonomic diversity in broadly defined P. hexagona should also be considered in future conservation efforts.

Coronaviruses are highly virulent and therefore important human and veterinary pathogens worldwide. This study presents the first natural hierarchical classification of Coronaviridae. We also demonstrate a “one-step” solution to incorporate the principles of binomial (binary) nomenclature into taxonomy of Coronaviridae. We strongly support the complete rejection of the non-taxonomic category “virus” in any future taxonomic study in virology. This will aid future recognition of numerous virus species, particularly in the currently monotypic subgenus Sarbecovirus. Commenting on the nature of SARS-CoV-2, the authors emphasize that no member of the Sarbecovirus clade is an ancestor of this virus, and humans are the only natural known host.