The Retroviridae / Edition 1

by Jay A. Levy

Overview

In this second volume in the series The Retroviridae, the readers are treated to up-to-date reviews on these viruses, which are found in a variety of animal species. The volume begins with important observations on the general fea­ tures of retrovirus entry into cells as determined by the viral envelope glyco­ proteins and the cell surface receptors (Chapter 1). Aspects of this virus-cell interaction form the basis for the variety of biologic effects associated with this virus family. A timely review of the oncogenic feline viruses is included next (Chapter 2). These viruses, along with the avian and murine retroviruses (Volume 1, Chapters 6 and 7), have provided valuable insight into cancer induction in other animal species, including humans. Two other major groups of retroviruses, the lentiviruses and the spuma­ viruses, are introduced in the present volume. Initially these groups, along with oncoviruses, were the three subfamilies in the Retroviridae. This com­ plex virus family has now been reclassified into seven separate genera (Vol­ ume 1, Chapter 2). Equine infectious anemia virus is the prototype for a lentivirus (Chapter 5). One of the first viruses discovered in nature (1904), it was only relatively recently recognized as a retrovirus. Lentiviruses are asso­ ciated primarily with immunologic disorders such as autoimmunity and AIDS (Chapters 3-5), but their association with neurologic disease is also well established (Chapters 4 and 5, and future volumes).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306443695
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	06/30/1993
Series:	The Viruses
Edition description:	1993
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.28(d)

About the Author

Levy, Jay A. (UCSF)

The contributors represent the specialties of comparative medicine, molecular genetics, biochemistry, infectious disease, and microbiology. Most come from the U.S., but two are from Japan and one is from England. Institutions prominently represented include Johns Hopkins, Centers for Disease Control, and the Univ of Pittsburgh.

Table of Contents

1 Cellular Receptors and Viral Glycoproteins Involved in Retrovirus Entry.- 2 Feline Oncoretroviruses.- 3 The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.- 4 The Lentiviruses of Sheep and Goats.- 5 Equine Retroviruses.- 6 Spumaviruses.- 7 Human Retroviruses: HTLV-I and HTLV-II.

Editorial Reviews

This fourth and final volume of The Retroviridae completes an extensive overview of this family of viruses. It brings together current information on the human retroviruses, their biological and molecular features, and the interaction of these viruses with intracellular factors that control retrovirus replication. The topics include the molecular biology of spumaviruses; the role of the retrovirus family in the transmission of oncogenes; the potential roles of retroviruses in neurological diseases and autoimmunity; and approaches to prevent virus infection through vaccines. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

‘A wonderful and thorough review of a rapidly expanding and critically important field in medical science....an excellent educational source for students and postdoctoral fellows and a reference for investigators in retrovirology....an extraordinary undertaking...the bible of retrovirology.'
ASM News, from a review of the series

‘An excellent resource for research scientists and postdoctoral students....the chapters are succinctly written by preeminent authorities on the topics, well referenced and provocative.'
American Society for Microbiology News, from a review of an earlier volume

From the Publisher