This book is a collection of chapters dealing with examples of RNA and DNA viruses, and issues such as how these gene packages have learnt to take advantage of their hosts, molecular recognition events that hosts may use to counterattack the viruses, and how researchers have developed strategies to use viruses or their parts as tools for different purposes.

Designed for students learning about viruses for the first time at the undergraduate or graduate level, Fundamentals of Molecular Virology is presented in a style which relates to today's students and professors. This book is also a valuable, up-to-date source of information for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research scientists working with viruses. Chapters contributed by prominent virologists were edited to conform to a clear and accessible style. The text provides a thorough presentation of basic and contemporary concepts in virology for a student's first exposure to the field.

Virus as Composition, Complexity, Quasispecies, Dynamics, and Biological Implications, Second Edition, explains the fundamental concepts surrounding viruses as complex populations during replication in infected hosts. Fundamental phenomena in virus behavior, such as adaptation to changing environments, capacity to produce disease, and the probability to be transmitted or respond to treatment all depend on virus population numbers. Concepts such as quasispecies dynamics, mutations rates, viral fitness, the effect of bottleneck events, population numbers in virus transmission and disease emergence, and new antiviral strategies are included. The book's main concepts are framed by recent observations on general virus diversity derived from metagenomic studies and current views on the origin and role of viruses in the evolution of the biosphere. - Features current views on key steps in the origin of life and origins of viruses - Includes examples relating ancestral features of viruses with their current adaptive capacity - Explains complex phenomena in an organized and coherent fashion that is easy to comprehend and enjoyable to read - Considers quasispecies as a framework to understand virus adaptability and disease processes

Essential Human Virology, Second Edition focuses on the structure and classification of viruses, virus transmission and virus replication strategies based upon type of viral nucleic acid. Several chapters focus on notable and recognizable viruses and the diseases caused by them, including influenza, HIV, hepatitis viruses, poliovirus, herpesviruses and emerging and dangerous viruses. Additionally, how viruses cause disease (pathogenesis) is highlighted, along with discussions on immune response to viruses, vaccines, anti-viral drugs, gene therapy, the beneficial uses of viruses, research laboratory assays and viral diagnosis assays. Fully revised and updated with new chapters on coronaviruses, nonliving infectious agents, and notable non-human viruses, the book provides students with a solid foundation in virology. - Focuses on human diseases and the cellular pathology that viruses cause - Highlights current and cutting-edge technology and associated issues - Presents real case studies and current news highlights in each chapter - Features dynamic illustrations, chapter assessment questions, key terms, and a summary of concepts, as well as an instructor website with lecture slides, a test bank and recommended activities - Updated and revised, with new chapters on coronaviruses, nonliving infectious agents, and notable non-human viruses

This book contains information on various virus families, with the focus on viruses causing prevalent infections in parts of developing countries in Africa and Asia. Viral proteins play an important role in their replication and infection potential, and are the main candidates for antiviral therapy and vaccines. While some antiviral vaccines are available for quite some time (e.g. MMR), there are regions in the world still struggling with some infections. This is especially the problem in regions where the morbidity rate from viral infections among young children is high. This situation requires urgent measures to put infections under control.

A collection of cutting-edge techniques for detecting most of the major viruses that afflict mankind, including influenza, hepatitis, herpes, polio, mumps, HIV, and many more. The techniques are well-tested, easily reproducible, and readily employ all the new technologies-PCR, RIA, ELISA, and latex-agglutination-that have revolutionized the field. These methods not only make it possible to do the necessary analysis in hours instead of days, but can also be automated in a laboratory havng only low levels of biological containment. Frequently, the protocols for viruses causing human diseases can be adapted to similar viruses of veterinary importance. Through its state-of-the-art methods a physician can, for the first time, determine early in a viral infection which antiviral drug should be used and minimize the period of treatment to avoid unnecessary side effects.