Today, knowledge about viruses or distinct aspects of viral infections has become important for our daily life. Continuously, we are confronted with headlines and news concerning, e.g.，new influenza viruses, outbreaks of norovirus epidemics, or transmission of otherwise rare zoonotic infections to humans. Due to the major progress in molecular biology and biotechnology, the knowledge on viral infections multiplied during the past decades. Thereby it is possible to characterize and identify new virus types rapidly after their first emergence. Rational development of both antiviral drugs and protective vaccines has reduced the potential danger emanating from viruses for human and animal health.
Indeed, there are hardly any scientific disciplines that have benefited from each other as much as molecular biology and virology. Several important processes in molecular biology and genetics have been initially discovered in viral systems as there is splicing of RNA precursors, nucleosomal structure of double-stranded DNA, or basic immunological defense reactions based on interferon-mediated effects. Additionally, the application of modem methods in molecular biology and biotechnology has led to an advanced knowledge and understanding of the processes involved in the infection caused by human and animal viruses. The Handbook of Molecular Virology tries to combine both disciplines to facilitate the understanding between the basic molecular process and the effects that are caused by the respective virus infections and manifested as symptoms or diseases.
First published in Germany in 1996, the present volume represents the translation of the third edition of the text book Molekulare Virologie, which appeared in print in 2010. In several places the text has been updated with recently published data. The main focus of all chapters is on virus infections, the knowledge of which is important for human and animal health. The content is divided into two parts: Chapters 1-13 address general aspects of virus replication, structure, and immunological defense. In chapters 14-21, the molecular biology of each virus family is described in detail along with clinical and epidemiological data for the relevant viral infections. Primarily written for readers in Central Europe, the German edition had a special focus on viral infections with relevance for the German-speaking countries. In the English edition, we have tried to adapt the text and deleted details that describe the epidemiology and requirements of notification in Central Europe. For readers that are interested in those data we have included a list of websites of various national and international public health organizations that provide the respective information.
We thank all the coworkers from Springer, Heidelberg, that have contributed to the English edition as translators and copyeditors (Ariel Quinones, Dr. Stuart Evans), and project managers (Daniel Quinones, Dr. Sylvia Blago) who patiently answered all our questions. Furthermore, we are indebted to all our colleagues in virology who we pestered with specific questions in order to obtain the most recent data and results. Dr. Hans Gelderblom supplied almost all the figures that show selected electron microscopic pictures of representative members of each virus family in combination with a chapter describing the basic methods in electron microscopy. Last but not least, we thank all our family members, friends and colleagues, who share our daily lives and who we had to neglect during the writing/translation process.

Part I 1

1 Historical Overview 3

2 Viruses: Definition, Structure, Classification 17

3 Viral Proliferation and Replication 31

4 Pathogenesis 39

5 Cell Damage 49

6 Transformation and Carcinogenesis 57

7 Immunology 69

8 Cytokines, Chemokines and Interferons 95

9 Chemotherapy 115

10 Vaccines 135

11 Epidemiology 147

12 Viral Evolution 155

13 Laboratory Methods for Detecting Viral Infections 163

Part II 183

14 Viruses with Single-Stranded, Positive-Sense RNA Genomes 185

15 Viruses with Single-Stranded, Non-Segmented, Negative-Sense RNA Genomes 351

16 Viruses with Single-Stranded, Segmented, Negative-Sense RNA Genomes 437

17 Viruses with Double-Stranded, Segmented RNA Genomes 521

18 Viruses with Single-Stranded RNA Genomes and Double-Stranded DNA as an Intermediate Product 555

19 Viruses with a Double-Stranded DNA Genome 625

20 Viruses with a Single-Stranded DNA Genome 875

21 Prions 919

Appendix 1 - Transmission Electron Microscopy in Virology: Principles, Preparation Methods and Rapid Diagnosis 949

Appendix 2 - Information on the “Prototypical Electron-Microscopic Portraits” of Individual Virus Families 955

Glossary 961

Additional Information 975

Index 979

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