The Molecular Basis Of Viral Infection

Virology is in a sense both one of the most important precursors and one of the most significant beneficiaries of structural and cellular molecular biology. Numerous breakthroughs in our understanding of the molecular interactions of viruses with host cells are ready for translation into medically important applications such as the prevention and treatment of viral infections. This book collects a wide variety of examples of frontline research into molecular aspects of viral infections from virological, immunological, cell- and molecular-biological, structural, and theoretical perspectives. Contributors are world leaders in their fields of study and represent prestigious academic and research institutions Review articles vary vastly in scope: some focus on a narrowly defined scientific problem of one particular virus with careful introduction for the non-specialist; others are essays in general and comparative virology with forays into specific viral species or molecules The different perspectives complement each other and collectively the contributions provide an impression of the fast-moving frontlines of virology while showing how the problems have evolved Structural data are presented through high-quality illustrations

The current proliferation of scientific information makes it difficult for even the most diligent reader to keep up with the latest developments in his/her own field, let alone other areas of interest. Review articles are one solution, but they too have become so voluminous and detailed that they often defeat the purpose for which they were intended. We have attempted to ease this problem by using a different format. In this volume on Concepts in Viral Pathogenesis, we have assembled a series of mini-reviews/editorials, 1,000 to 2,000 words in length. Each is a pithy distil lation of the state-of-the-art with emphasis on current thinking and unifying concepts rather than a compendium of the literature. The 53 articles, all written by active workers in their respective fields, are organized systemati cally so that the book will provide busy investigators, teachers and students of up-to-date information in a very brief and easily read a conceptual core able form. In addition, the authors have attempted to identify unresolved problems and point to future directions.

This comprehensive account of the human herpesviruses provides an encyclopedic overview of their basic virology and clinical manifestations. This group of viruses includes human simplex type 1 and 2, Epstein–Barr virus, Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, HHV6A, 6B and 7, and varicella-zoster virus. The viral diseases and cancers they cause are significant and often recurrent. Their prevalence in the developed world accounts for a major burden of disease, and as a result there is a great deal of research into the pathophysiology of infection and immunobiology. Another important area covered within this volume concerns antiviral therapy and the development of vaccines. All these aspects are covered in depth, both scientifically and in terms of clinical guidelines for patient care. The text is illustrated generously throughout and is fully referenced to the latest research and developments.

Elucidation of the mechanisms of pathogenesis underlying the diseases caused by viruses and bacteria has fascinated scientists for many years in two ways. Firstly, these pathogenic agents represent relatively sim ple biological systems for the study of basic biological processes such as replication, gene regulation, genetic variability and host-pathogen interactions. Secondly, process in this field is valuable in a practi cal sence, since it can help in the control of these diseases. The avail ability of new genetic and immunological techniques, especially recom binant DNA methods and monoclonal antibody technology, has provided powerful tools for unravelling the genetic, biochemical and immunologi cal basis of viral and microbial pathogenesis. Molecular cloning has allowed the isolation of single genes or groups of genes related to phenotypes which appear to be immunologically important for pathogene sis. The specific elimination of such genes from the complex genomes of the pathogens can now be achieved with similar genetic techniques. These genetic studies have provided additional information on the role played by specific phenotypic traits in pathogenesis, especially when combined with relevant animal model systems. Furthermore, the struc tural analysis of important virulence factors and surface antigens may allow the prediction of antigenic domains suitable for the development of new vaccines. The 38th Mosbacher Colloquium focuses on the molecular basis of viral and microbial pathogenesis. The virology part begins with the well studied plant viroids. The unusual structure of their genome, as well as knowledge about their replication and pathogenicity, are presented.

the discovery of the "splicing" of the gene transcripts, the list would include the whole molecular genetics of the lambda bacteriophage, the notions of "promotor," "repressor," and "integration," the discovery of the reverse flow of genetic information, the very existence of oncogenes, the S'-terminal "cap" struc ture of eukaryotic mRNAs, ... Electronmicroscopy, ultracentrifugation and tissue culture were the landmarks on the way of the young science. During the past few years, however, a major (and not so silent) revolution took place: recombinant DNA technology with all its might entered in our laboratories, and restriction mapping of cloned genomes and sequencing gels have replaced plaque counting and sucrose gradients. The new techniques have made it possible to "dissect" the entire genome of a virus at the molecular level, and studies that would have been dreamt of just in the mid-seventies became the everyday experiments of our days. With new insight into the structure of viral genomes, and a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that regulate their expression, our view of viruses was bound to change: this volume bears witness to this impressive advance.

This book contemplates the structure, dynamics and physics of virus particles: From the moment they come into existence by self-assembly from viral components produced in the infected cell, through their extracellular stage, until they recognise and infect a new host cell and cease to exist by losing their physical integrity to start a new infectious cycle. (Bio)physical techniques used to study the structure of virus particles and components, and some applications of structure-based studies of viruses are also contemplated. This book is aimed first at M.Sc. students, Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers with a university degree in biology, chemistry, physics or related scientific disciplines who share an interest or are actually working on viruses. We have aimed also at providing an updated account of many important concepts, techniques, studies and applications in structural and physical virology for established scientists working on viruses, irrespective of their physical, chemical or biological background and their field of expertise. We have not attempted to provide a collection of for-experts-only reviews focused mainly on the latest research in specific topics; we have not generally assumed that the reader knows all of the jargon and all but the most recent and advanced results in each topic dealt with in this book. In short, we have attempted to write a book basic enough to be useful to M.Sc and Ph.D. students, as well as advanced and current enough to be useful to senior scientists with an interest in Structural and/or Physical Virology.

Advances in molecular biology have enabled leaps forward in the determination of virus phylogenetic history. This detailed 1995 book results from the invitation to foremost experts to give essays on aspects of virus biology. Initial chapters cover impacts of viruses and their control. Further chapters detail genetic variation of viruses and the molecular basis of interrelations with hosts. This leads to discussions of interactions with the host at the population level, and their molecular basis and evolution. Seventeen chapters follow, by specialists on particular groups of viruses describing their impact, genetic origins, sources of variation, population genetics and interactions with hosts. Practical virologists will find the chapters on phylogenetic analysis techniques very useful. The adaptive nature of viruses makes this work highly relevant to evolutionists.