Marilyn J. Roossinck Book order

Viruses examines all the aspects of viruses that are essential for understanding them--their diversity, behaviors, life cycles, and much more. Written in a nontechnical and easy-to-follow style, the book covers what viruses are and where they come from; how they transmit and evolve; the battle between viruses and hosts, including immunity and vaccination; viruses that are good for us; the critical role viruses play in the balance of earth's ecosystems; what makes a virus--including COVID-19 and influenza become pandemic in plants or animals; and the cutting-edge research that is discovering thousands of new viruses. Each chapter concludes with stunningly illustrated profiles that highlight key viruses.

Exploring the fascinating realm of viruses, this guide provides a comprehensive introduction to their nature and functionality. It features detailed profiles of 101 notable viruses, each accompanied by striking images. Readers will gain insight into the complexity of these microorganisms, highlighting their significance as the last frontier of undiscovered life on Earth.

VIROLOGY (NON-MEDICAL). Viruses are the last frontier of undiscovered life on our planet. The most abundant type of organism on Earth, they infect all types of cellular life, and, as micro-organisms that cause disease in their hosts, they are highly opportunistic and relentlessly efficient. They exist at the vanguard of DNA variance, exhibiting more structural diversity than plants, animals, archaea, or even bacteria. This 21st-century guide offers an engaging introductory section explaining exactly what viruses are and how they operate, followed by individual profiles of 101 of the world's most notable examples, each with its own dazzling mugshot. *Each virus profile features visuals, maps, and lively text to highlight key features *With 101 examples, selected to reveal the extraordinary diversity of the viral world *A global overview that uncovers the microlife teeming around us

The evolution of viruses has been a topic of intense investigation and theoretical development over the past several decades. Numerous workshops, review articles, and books have been devoted to the subject. Medical practitioners have recognized the importance of viral evolution when treating patients with viral diseases. Farmers have recognized the importance of understanding virus evolution in combating emerging viral diseases in their crop plants. As with any field where knowledge is rapidly expanding, many controversies have also arisen about the nature of virus evolution, how to describe virus populations, how to analyze sequence data and estimate phylogenies, etc. Differing points of view will also be found in the various chapters of this book, and I leave it to the readers to decide for themselves which side they find most helpful. In some cases it seems to me that all sides are correct. In other cases, future historians will decide. This book focuses on the evolution of plant viruses, although some chapters also draw on the more extensive knowledge of animal viruses. It covers topics on evo- tionary mechanisms, viral ecology and emergence, appropriate methods for analysis, and the role of evolution in taxonomy. It includes RNA viruses, DNA viruses, integrated viruses and viroids.