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Microbes & Immunity SARS-CoV-2 complementary classification

the suggested classification system, none of the examined 4. Discussion
SARS-CoV-2 variants qualify as VOCs by both genetic and
functional impact criteria, reinforcing the need for a revised Although the present SARS-CoV-2 classification schemes
classification framework based on objective thresholds. played a role in early variant detection and response
planning, several shortcomings remain that could be
addressed with a complementary evolutionary and
Table 2. Estimates of evolutionary divergence over sequence
pairs between HCV subtypes biologically based system. First, the present schemes
overgeneralize risk, frequently triggering disproportionate
HCV species 1 HCV species 2 Genetic distance (s/s) public reactions before sufficient epidemiological data are
1a 1b 0.371 available. Second, they lack robust quantitative severity
1a 3a 0.613 metrics, often prioritizing genetic alterations over concrete
1b 3a 0.554 clinical outcomes or real-world vaccine effectiveness.
Third, they inadvertently amplify public anxiety by
1a 4a 0.599
reinforcing the notion that each new variant constitutes an
1b 4a 0.637 existential crisis, rather than a predictable feature of viral
3a 4a 0.674 evolution. 123,124 A shift toward a refined, biologically relevant
Abbreviations: HCV: Hepatitis C virus; s/s: Substitutions per site. classification system is therefore needed. Rather than

Figure 3. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of influenza A virus subtypes. Statistically supported branches are highlighted in red. The tree was
visualized using the FigTree software.

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 95 doi: 10.36922/MI025190042