Viruses are the smallest of organisms, yet given that they account for at least a third of presentations in the doctors clinic, they must be well understood by medical students and practitioners alike. Collier & Oxford's Human Virology presents this complex and rapidly evolving subject with notable clarity and topicality. The first part of the text deals with the general principles of virology, including the properties of viruses, replication and genetics, along with disease and resistance. This is followed by chapters dedicated to specific groups of viruses, then special syndromes associated with susceptible groups. The final part of the book is reserved for practical aspects of virology, including diagnosis, control measures and anti-viral therapies. The authors intent is not to turn their readers into virologists, but rather to provide them with enough knowledge of the nature of viruses and viral infections to serve as an essential foundation for clinical involvement with the subject. By providing a concise but comprehensive account of the fascinating subject of virology, this text is ideal for students of medecine, dentistry, microbiology, nursing and the biological sciences.
This latest edition has been extensively updated and incorporates many new diagrams, accompanied by the introduction of full colour presentation. The importance of viruses has demanded a fresh appreciation in recent years, providing opportunity for this edition to include coverage of: - The emergence of SARS - Latest research in the study of prion diseases - An exploration of the debate regarding MMR versus single vaccination - Progress in the study and treatment of HIV/AIDS - Recent advances in diagnostic virology and antiviral therapy - Greater emphasis on the antiviral precautions required of healthcare professionals
Table of Contents
1. Virology: How it all began; 2. General properties of viruses; 3. Viral replication and genetics; 4. How viruses cause disease; 5. Resistance to virus infections; 6. Viruses and cancer in humans; 7. Viruses and the community; 8. Upper respiratory tract and eye infections due to adenoviruses, coronaviruses (including SARS CoV), and rhinoviruses; 9. Childhood infections caused by paramyxoviruses; 10. Orthomyxoviruses and influenza; 11. Gastroenteritis viruses; 12. Rubella: postnatal infections; 13. Parvoviruses; 14. Poxviruses; 15. Papovaviruses; 16. Poliomyelitis and other picornavirus infections; 17. The herpesviruses: general properties; 18. The alphaherpesviruses: herpes simplex and varicella-zoster; 19. The betaherpesviruses: cytomegalovirus and human herpesviruses 6 and 7; 20. The gammaherpesviruses: epstein-barr virus and kaposi's sarcoma-assocociated herpesvirus; 21. Introduction to the hepatitis viruses; 22. The blood-borne hepatitis viruses B and delta; 23. The enteric hepatitis viruses A and E; 24. The bloodborne hepatitis flaviviruses; 25. Retroviruses and AIDS; 26. Lyssavirus and rabies; 27. Arthropod-borne viruses; 28. Exotic and dangerous infections: filoviruses, arenaviruses and hantaviruses; 29. Prions and the spongiform encephalopathies; 30. Viral diseases of the central nervous system; 31. Intrauterine and perinatal infections; 32. Viral infections in patients with defective immunity; 33. Respiratory Infections; 34. Sexually transmitted viral infections; 35. Resurgent and emergent viral infections; 36. The laboratory diagnosis of viral infections; 37. Control of viral diseases by immunization; 38. Antiviral chemotherapy
Author Biography
Leslie Collier was from 1978 to 1986 Professor of Virology at the London Hospital Medical College, being succeeded in this post by John Oxford. John Oxford is Professor of Virology at St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of London. He is the co-author of two standard texts on Influenza and Virology and has published 250 scientific papers throughout the world. Professor Oxford serves as the Scientific Director of Retroscreen, Ltd., the College's research virology company.
