Main description:

Milton Taylor, Indiana University, offers an easy-to-read and fascinating text describing the impact of viruses on human society. The book starts with an analysis of the profound effect that viral epidemics had on world history resulting in demographic upheavals by destroying total populations. It also provides a brief history of virology and immunology. Furthermore, the use of viruses for the treatment of cancer (viral oncolysis or virotherapy) and bacterial diseases (phage therapy) and as vectors in gene therapy is discussed in detail. Several chapters focus on viral diseases such as smallpox, influenza, polio, hepatitis and their control, as well as on HIV and AIDS and on some emerging viruses with an interesting story attached to their discovery or vaccine development. The book closes with a chapter on biological weapons. It will serve as an invaluable source of information for beginners in the field of virology as well as for experienced virologists, other academics, students, and readers without prior knowledge of virology or molecular biology.

Contents:

Chapter 1. A Short History of Virology

Chapter 2. What is a Virus?

Chapter 3. A History of Cell Culture

Chapter 4. Discovery of Bacteriophage

Chapter 5. Beginnings of Molecular Biology

Chapter 6. History of Immunology

Chapter 7. Interferons

Chapter 8. Cancer and Viruses

Chapter 9. Smallpox

Chapter 10. Yellow Fever

Chapter 11. Influenza

Chapter 12. Poliovirus and Other Picornaviruses

Chapter 13. Hepatitis

Chapter 14. Herpes Viruses

Chapter 15. HIV and AIDS

Chapter 16. Phage Therapy and the Future

Chapter 17. Viral Oncolysis or Virotherapy

Chapter 18. Gene Therapy and Viral Vectors

Chapter 19. Vaccine Against Virus Infections

Chapter 20. Emerging Viruses

Chapter 21. Manufacturing Viruses

Chapter 22. Viruses as Biological Weapons