G. L. Smith – författare

The 20th century has seen improvements in both public health and disease prevention which, in turn, have had a dramatic impact on our lives. Success in preventing infection by vaccination and treating infection with antibiotics led some to believe that infectious disease was a thing of the past. However, the adaptability of pathogens and the emergence of new diseases has presented microbiologists with a fresh set of challenges as we enter the new millennium. While celebrating past successes and highlighting developing problems, this volume aims to address some of the issues facing microbiologists in the future. Covering a wide range of topics, it will provide an invaluable resource for microbiologists and an excellent reference for advanced students.

Viruses continually evolve and adapt, posing new threats to health. This book discusses the ecology of viruses with particular emphasis on the emergence of devastating haemorrhagic disease, and reviews the molecular and cell biological basis of the pathogenesis of several virus diseases. An introduction is given to the mathematical analysis of recurrent epidemic virus disease, such as measles. Neurological and psychological disease is discussed in relation to the pathological mechanisms that may underlie prion disease (such as new variant CJD) and to the possible virus involvement in human psychiatric illness. Virus infections that have come to prominence recently (HIV, bunyaviruses, morbilliviruses and caliciviruses) or that remain a threat (influenza and hepatitis viruses) are discussed. There are also chapters on new and potential niches for virus infections in the immunocompromised, and the problem of the emergence of antiviral drug resistance in viruses for which therapies exist.