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Fig. 4 | Retrovirology

Fig. 4

From: Nomenclature for endogenous retrovirus (ERV) loci

Fig. 4

Schematic phylogeny illustrating the basis for a unified ERV and retrovirus taxonomy. The top two brackets indicate taxonomic groupings. The ‘clade’ level reflects three major divergences in orthoretroviral reverse transcriptase genes [71]. The seven officially recognised genera are shown as coloured goblets at phylogeny tips. In addition, three placeholder groups are shown: Spumavirus-related (S), Gammaretrovirus/Epsilonretrovirus-related (GE), and Alpharetrovirus/Betaretrovirus-related (AB). Placeholder groups (indicated by coloured squares) are reserved for ERVs that do not group within the diversity of established genera. Within these broad groups, additional subgroupings representing well-established monophyletic ERV lineages may be recognized. Here, some examples are indicated, shown emerging from each of their parent groups. Ultimately, some of these lineages might be attributed genus status, and would be moved to the appropriate level within this classification scheme

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