Science never solves apr oblem without creating ten more Geor ge Bernard Shaw How prophetic the above words prove to be when applied to the advances of 20th century medicine. Prior to Banting and Best, chnicians were unaware of the ravages of diabetes, patients simply wasted away and died. Following the purifica tion of insulin, clinicians now had to deal with diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neph ropathy and all the other complications of long-term diabetes. A little over 50 years ago, the first successful human kidney transplant was performed in Boston. The first 30 years of the experience had successes when compared to the alternative but were a constant struggle to get even 50% of the grafts from deceased donors to survive more than a year. However, the science continued to advance knowledge of the immune response. With this came more and increasingly powerful tools for the clinician. Suddenly, success rates of 80-90% at one year were attainable. With this success came new problems, new complications and clinicians now had to worry about the long-term consequences of their therapy as patients were surviving with functional grafts for extended periods. A particular infectious complication evolved with the application of ever more powerful immunosuppressant drugs. Astute clinicians noted that occasionally cellular rejections seemed to get worse with steroids. Despite their best efforts and the use of powerful drugs, patients lost their grafts to overwhelming interstitial infiltrates not seen before.

Our understanding of human polyomaviruses has evolved profoundly in the last fifteen years, creating an urgent need for an updated resource. Drs. Khalili and Stoner have collected the contributions of renowned researchers and clinicians in this cutting-edge volume.

Molecular Virology of Human Pathogenic Viruses presents robust coverage of the key principles of molecular virology while emphasizing virus family structure and providing key context points for topical advances in the field. The book is organized in a logical manner to aid in student discoverability and comprehension and is based on the author's more than 20 years of teaching experience. Each chapter will describe the viral life cycle covering the order of classification, virion and genome structure, viral proteins, life cycle, and the effect on host and an emphasis on virus-host interaction is conveyed throughout the text. Molecular Virology of Human Pathogenic Viruses provides essential information for students and professionals in virology, molecular biology, microbiology, infectious disease, and immunology and contains outstanding features such as study questions and recommended journal articles with perspectives at the end of each chapter to assist students with scientific inquiries and in reading primary literature. - Presents viruses within their family structure - Contains recommended journal articles with perspectives to put primary literature in context - Includes integrated recommended reading references within each chapter - Provides access to online ancillary package inclusive of annotated PowerPoint images, instructor's manual, study guide, and test bank

Human polyomaviruses are non-enveloped viruses with a circular double-stranded DNA genome of approximately 5,000 base pairs. The members BK virus and JC virus were first isolated in 1971 and are very common in the human population. Simian virus 40 (SV40), although originally isolated from rhesus macaques and accidentally introduced in the human population during massive poliovirus vaccination, may represent a third member of the polyomaviruses that can have man as a natural host. Primary infection with BK or/and JC virus occurs during early childhood. Subsequently, these viruses establish a seemingly life-long harmless latent infection. However, virus reactivation can occur especially in immunocompromised individuals and JC virus has been recognised as the cause of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, while BK virus-associated interstitial nephritis has become an emerging complication in renal transplant patients. The genomes of human polyomaviruses encode two functional classes of proteins: the regulatory proteins large T-antigen, small t-antigen, and agnoprotein, and the structural proteins VP1, VP2 and VP3 that form the capsid. The regulatory proteins can modulate the expression and/or activity of cellular proteins involved in signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, and chromosomal functions. Therefore, they all possess oncogenic potential. Consistent with this, human polyomaviruses are capable of transforming human cells and inducing tumours in rodents, and are implicated in human malignancies. This book focuses on the etiological role of human polyomaviruses in cancer and highlights the mechanisms by which the viral regulatory proteins may contribute to neoplastic transformation of the infected host cells. Possible therapeutic strategies against these viruses will also be discussed.

Human Polyomaviruses Molecular and Clinical perspectives Edited by Kamel Khalili and Gerald L. Stoner Our understanding of human polyomaviruses has evolved profoundly in the last fifteen years, creating an urgent need for an updated resource. Drs. Khalili and Stoner have collected the contributions of renowned researchers and clinicians in this cutting-edge volume. Human Polyomaviruses: Molecular and Clinical Perspectives presents in-depth analyses, comprehensive reviews, and timely assessments of recent discoveries and ongoing controversies focused on these important viral pathogens. Beginning with an historical perspective, this book covers up-to-date investigations into the molecular biology and pathogenesis of human polyomaviruses. All aspects of these persistent infections are subsequently covered, including clinical issues, from diagnosis to information on treatment and drug trials. Central topics are: BK virus JC virus Simian virus 40 (SV40) and its potential as a human pathogen Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) This reference is a superb indoctrination for graduate students, medical students, high-level undergraduates, and anyone engaged in the study of DNA viruses and their molecular biology, evolution, transmission, and pathological potential.

The knowledge and practice of clinical virology continues to expand. This new fifth edition has thirty-six comprehensive chapters, each of which has been extensively revised or rewritten, with the addition of new colour plates. This updated version takes into account knowledge accumulated in molecular biology with its applications for laboratory diagnosis, immunisation and antiviral chemotherapy. Each chapter highlights the clinical features and epidemiological patterns of infection. Similarly, in response to the global concern of the threat posed by new viruses, a new chapter on Emerging Infections is included. There is also new material on Hospital Acquired Infections, including some advice relating to SARS, that will be of benefit to those dealing with the day-to-day management of patients in hospital.

This Second Edition of A Practical Guide to Clinical Virology is a practical, highly illustrated, quick reference guide to clinical virology. It brings together the essentials of the subject in a entertaining and informative style, describing in turn the clinical features, the symptoms and signs of each of the viral diseases, as well as summarising the epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis and therapy in each case. This book also includes general chapters on classification, diagnosis of infection, antiviral drugs, vaccines and different clinical syndromes. Key Features: Chapter summaries for quick reference Cartoon illustrations Comprehensive coverage Clear and concise format Each chapter is easy to read and well organised, ensuring that this is an invaluable textbook for all medical, biomedical, microbiology and applied biology students. In addition, it provides an excellent reference for nurses, occupational health and infection control departments, public health and diagnostic laboratories.