Classification

= Classification  =

====There are six classes of viruses, referred to simply as Class I-VI. These classes are based on what kind of genetic material the viral genome contains, and are further divided into subclasses depending on other features of the virus, such as its membrane. The Epstein-Barr virus, a herpesvirus, belongs to class I, as it has double-stranded DNA. The classes are as follows: ====
 * ======**Class I: Double-strand DNA **======
 * ======papovavirus ======
 * ======adenovirus ======
 * ======**herpesvirus **======
 * **Epstein-Barr virus **
 * ======poxvirus ======
 * ======Class II: Single-strand DNA ======
 * ======parvovirus ======
 * ======Class III: Double-strand RNA ======
 * ======revorius ======
 * ======Class IV: Single-strand RNA that serves as mRNA picornavirus ======
 * ======togavirus ======
 * ======Class V: Single-strand RNA that serves as template for mRNA ======
 * ======rhabdovirus ======
 * ======paramyxovirus ======
 * ======<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">orthomyxovirus ======
 * ======<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Class VI: Single-strand RNA that serves as template for DNA ======
 * ======<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">retrovirus ======

=
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Another name for Epstein-Barr virus is human herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4). It belongs to the family Herpesviridae, which includes all the herpesviruses. (Herpesviridae is in turn part of the genus Lymphocryptovirus). There are three subfamilies of Herpesviridae - Alphaherpesviridae, Betaherpesviridae, and Gammaherpesvirdae. EBV belongs to Gammaherpesvirdae; these viruses are distinguished by their affinity for lymphocytes. It is closely related to the Karposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (HHV-8), which causes a rare syndrome called Karposi's sarcoma that was seen in the first AIDS patients in the US. Betaherpesviridae also attack lymphocytes, but Alphaherpesviridae infect the nervous system. =====