Categorization

Accession To The Database: The Basis Of Categorization* (written by Dr. E.D. Kilbourne)            

* (I wish to acknowledge here the principal role of Ian Brett in the creation of the database. I also wish to thank Philip Ravenscroft, Christopher Kilbourne, and Glenn Seseske for establishing the Website and enhancing accessibility to the Database.)

A separate file has been made for each virus, summarizing all the information available in our laboratory records and publications, and in some cases suggesting future lines of research

These individual files also contain accession numbers to arbitrarily chosen components of the database which in essence describe the profile of each virus with regard to type (A or B), subtype (H1N1, etc), whether mutant or reassortant (or both), and other properties, such as neurovirulence or use in commercial vaccines. Obviously viruses in these files are multiply categorized and can be retrieved by searches involving one or more categorical sites under numerical code designations.

As an example, on the basis or their HA and NA antigens, all H2N2 viruses, regardless of whether they are wild type, reassortant, or mutant can be retrieved as a group under category 4. In turn, they can be subdivided as category 7, (reassortant), 8, (mutant), 9, (human - (natural isolate)), or 10, (animal or avian). As another example, members of category 8 may include viruses of any subtype. There are 20 such categories.

The location of each virus sample is given in each individual file to expedite retrieval.