Origin and Evolution of Viruses

Unique transdisciplinary coverage of basic concepts in virus evolution and their application to the understanding of evolution and pathogenesis of viruses such as hepatitis, influenza and herpes viruses.

Focuses on the mechanisms that viruses use to survive and cause disease in their hosts. Covering human, animal, plant and bacterial viruses, this work provides the basic foundations for the evolutionary dynamics of viruses and examples of diseases explained by the evolutionary flexibility of the viral agents.New viral diseases are emerging continuously. Viruses adapt to new environments at astounding rates. Genetic variability of viruses jeopardizes vaccine efficacy. For many viruses mutants resistant to antiviral agents or host immune responses arise readily, for example, with HIV and influenza. These variations are all of utmost importance for human and animal health as they have prevented us from controlling these epidemic pathogens. This book focuses on the mechanisms that viruses use to evolve, survive and cause disease in their hosts. Covering human, animal, plant and bacterial viruses, it provides both the basic foundations for the evolutionary dynamics of viruses and specific examples of emerging diseases.