Single-stranded RNA phages: From molecular biology to nanotechnology

by Paul Pumpens

Overview

This is a comprehensive guide to single-stranded RNA phages (family Leviviridae), first discovered in 1961. These phages played a unique role in early studies of molecular biology, the genetic code, translation, replication, suppression of mutations. Special attention is devoted to modern applications of the RNA phages and their products in nanotechnology, vaccinology, gene discovery, evolutionary and environmental studies. Included is an overview of the generation of novel vaccines, gene therapy vectors, drug delivery, and diagnostic tools exploring the role of RNA phage-derived products in the revolutionary progress of the protein tethering and bioimaging protocols.

Key Features

• Presents the first full guide to single-stranded RNA phages
• Reviews the history of molecular biology summarizing the role RNA phages in the development of the life sciences
• Demonstrates how RNA phage-derived products have resulted in nanotechnological applications
• Presents an up-to-date account of the role played by RNA phages in evolutionary and environmental studies

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780429671418
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	02/03/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	640
File size:	25 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Paul Pumpens, Dr. habil. biol., graduated from the Chemical Department of the University of Latvia in 1970, received his PhD in molecular biology from the Latvian Academy of Sciences in Riga, and received his DSc from the Institute of Molecular Biology of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Moscow. He pioneered genetic engineering research in Latvia and was one of the first in the world to successfully clone the hepatitis B virus genome. He is an author of more than 300 scientific papers and issued or pending patents.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

1. History and first look.

2. Taxonomy and grouping.

3. Pili hosts.

4. Physiology and growth.

5. Distribution.

6. Ecology.

7. Genome.

8. Genetics and mutants.

9. Particles.

10. RNA.

11. Maturation protein.

12. Coat protein.

13. Replicase.

14. Lysis protein.

15. Immunology.

16. Translation.

17. Replication.

18. Evolution.

19. Expression.

20. Chimeric VLPs.

21. 3D particles.

22. VLP vaccines.

23. Non-vaccine VLPs.

24. Non-VLPs.

25. Epilogue.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Omer Iqbal, MD, FACC, FESC (Loyola University Medical Center)
Description: This is an excellent book written about single-stranded RNA phages, which are important in early studies of molecular biology, the genetic code, translation, replication, suppression of mutations, and, most notably, the modern applications of the RNA phages and their products in nanotechnology, vaccinology, gene discovery, and evolutionary and environmental studies.
Purpose: The purpose of the book is to offer a complete overview of the generation of novel vaccines, gene therapy vectors, drug delivery, and diagnostic tools on the basis of RNA phage virus-like particles. Furthermore, the book outlines the great role of RNA phage and RNA phage-derived products in the revolutionary progress of bioimaging. These are excellent objectives and the book meets them by providing a comprehensive account of the single-stranded RNA phages belonging to the family Leviviridae.
Audience: It seems to me that this book is written for molecular biologists and virologists interested in the understanding of single-stranded RNA phages. The book does meet the needs of the intended audience as it provides an up-to-date account of single-stranded RNA phages in evolutionary and environmental studies. The author is a highly credible authority in this field based on his credentials and list of publications.
Features: The book is divided into 25 chapters. The introductory chapters cover the historical account, taxonomy, and grouping, pili, and hosts. The other chapters cover the physiology and growth of RNA phages, distribution, ecology, genome, and their genetic mutations. An entire chapter is based on the particles and presents a summary of the biophysical determinants of the RNA phage molecular mass. Other interesting chapters are devoted to RNA, maturation protein, coat protein, replicase, lysis protein, immunology and translation, replication evolution, expression, and chimeric virus-like particles (VLP). Other interesting chapters cover the 3D particles and VLP vaccines, non-vaccine VLPs, and non-s VLP. The epilogue of the book presents a rough estimate of the publication activities regarding the single-stranded RNA phages over 59 years of their discovery, goal achievements, virome, novel VLP models, three-dimensional structure of RNA phages, and the immediate future of RNA phages. The book has several high-quality illustrations. A unique feature of the book is that each chapter begins with interesting quotations of famous scientists and philosophers.
Assessment: This is very interesting and highly informative book that presents comprehensive information on single-stranded RNA phages, their role in the development of the life sciences, and how RNA phage-derived products have resulted in nanotechnological applications and essentially their role in evolutionary and environmental studies. Indeed, in this book the author presents the full story of RNA phages from molecular biology to nanotechnology.

Doody's Review Service