Virology.

The last couple of weeks I've been learning about Viruses.

What I am wondering is, what does knowing a certain kind of virus has an envelope tell me (aside from the fact it "may" hide the virus from the host immune system)?

Or that a Virus is RNA or DNA?

I only have access to outdated introductory microbiology textbooks.

Are there any general rules to learn about Viruses? Perhaps something like this:

(I am making up all the facts below)

1. Viruses with a Polyhedral Capsid are highly contagious

2. Viruses with the enzyme Reverse Transcriptase have no cure and have high mortality rates.

3. + sense viruses can only be transmitted be saliva.

4. - sense viruses cannot last outside a host for more than 30 seconds.

5. The smaller the virion, the more deadly.

(All the facts above are made up as an example).

Is anyone able to help me out here?

I have looked at the ICTV databases, they don't answer my question though.

Finally, and a little off topic, does anyone know if there is an international group of scientists who have a sort of "Official" database for Biological Taxonomy.

Something similar to the ICTV (International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses)

Website:

http://www.ictvonline.org/virusTaxonomy.asp?version=2008