Archives of Virology. Supplementa – serie

In this period of obvious natural emergence of viral and other diseases, it is unclear as to what diseases are emerging, why they are emerging, and what, if anything, can be done to prevent or diminish their impact. This book, a compendium of presentations made at an international meeting of experts, provides summaries of areas of concern and details as to how disease agents such as Nipah and Hendra viruses in Australasia and West Nile virus in the Americas might have suddenly appeared. Either by alterations in natural habitats and diversity or by chance, pathogens emerge from time to time. This book addresses various aspects of such emergences, such as pathogenetic mechanisms of viruses, diagnosis of viral infections, viral host-management strategies, viral genetics, vaccine development and application, and more and would be valuable for laboratory virologists, disease ecologists, physicians, those who would try to understand the complexities of viral characteristics.

In this period of obvious natural emergence of viral and other diseases, it is unclear as to what diseases are emerging, why they are emerging, and what, if anything, can be done to prevent or diminish their impact. This book, a compendium of presentations made at an international meeting of experts, provides summaries of areas of concern and details as to how disease agents such as Nipah and Hendra viruses in Australasia and West Nile virus in the Americas might have suddenly appeared. Either by alterations in natural habitats and diversity or by chance, pathogens emerge from time to time. This book addresses various aspects of such emergences, such as pathogenetic mechanisms of viruses, diagnosis of viral infections, viral host-management strategies, viral genetics, vaccine development and application. It is especially valuable for laboratory virologists, disease ecologists, physicians, and those who want to understand the complexities of viral characteristics.

The filoviruses (Lake Victoria marburgvirus and the ebolaviruses) are etiological agents of severe hemorrhagic fevers with extraordinary high case-fatality rates for humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and probably other animals.This review summarizes in detail the contemporary knowledge of filoviruses and the diseases they cause. The entirety of the open literature on filoviruses, covering all major scientific and clinical fields, is referenced and summarized in this text, including most of the conference abstracts, book chapters, dissertations, government reports, patents, theses, and journal publications in many languages. For ease of retrieval by the reader, all references are cited with original titles in the original spelling, first author names, full journal titles, and issue numbers where possible. The text of this book and the accompanying reference resource will be updated in the future, and thus will provide a robust source of information for filovirologists, other virologists and scientists in general, clinicians, students, journalists, and biodefense professionals.

This volume summarizes selected papers presented at two symposia convened in the fall of 1989. The papers include information on the molecular biology, antigenicity, diagnosis, epidemiology, clinical aspects, pathogenesis, vaccines and other aspects of haermorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and tick (tick-borne encephalitis, Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever, Duqbe, orbiviruses, orthomyxoviruses) and mosquito-borne (California serogroup, alphaviruses from Mongolia, sandfly fevers in Central Asia and Afghanistan) viruses. Although covering a wide range of subjects and perspectives, the book is intended to provide readers with an integrated view of the geographical distribution, properties and effects, recognition and prevention of infections with these and other viruses. Included are papers describing newly recognized viruses, virus diseases, foci, techniques for detection and diagnosis, and vaccines.

Findings concerning various clinical manifestations in cattle and sheep have proved that pestivirus infections in ruminants have an economic impact similar to hog cholera. Early data justified the classification of pestiviruses as a genus of nonarthopod-borne togaviruses. Since pestiviruses are difficult to work with, progress in understanding the virus and disease gradually came to a standstill because conventional techniques failed to yield further insights. About ten years ago, interest in pestivirology was revived by strong impulses of modern biotechnology and a breakthrough in pathogenesis research, in vitro translation of BVD viral proteins and the experimental reproduction of mucosal disease in cattle. In order to summarize and discuss these developments, an international community of pestivirus researchers came together in June 1990 in Hannover (Federal Republic of Germany) for the Symposium "Ruminant Pestivirus Infections: Virology, Pathogenesis and Perspectives on Prophylaxis". This book is a selection of papers presented at this symposium.

The Fifth Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), summarizes the proceedings and decisions reached by the ICTV at its meetings held at the International Congresses of Virology in Sendai (1984), Edmonton (1987) and Berlin (1990). This report has been organized in the same way as the previous ones (Wildy, 1971; Fenner, 1976; Matthews, 1979; 1982), yet it encompasses many more families and groups of viruses than previous reports, and it includes new tables, diagrams and keys. The officers and members of the ICTV study groups from 1984 to 1990 are listed, as the current ICTV statutes and rules of nomenclature. Information on the format for submission of new taxonomic proposals to the ICTV is also provided. Since the Fourth Report of the ICTV (1982), 19 new virus families and groups have been described. This report includes 2,430 viruses belonging to 73 families or groups, as well as virus satellites and viroids descriptions, but it does not include descriptions not approved by the ICTV. It now will be possible to publish such preliminary, and in some cases controversial, descriptions in the Virology Division pages of the Archives of Virology --this will allow virologists to carry on the kind of interim dialogue that is necessary for arriving at broad agreement on taxonomic matters.

Chronic viral hepatitis is discussed here in a multidisciplinary approach. The editors' goal was to assemble contributions from clinicians, laboratory physicians, epidemiologists, pathologists, and molecular biologists to provide a synopsis of all the important aspects of this disease. A key element in the chronic evolution of viral hepatitis is the persistent coexistence of a cytotoxic immune response and viral gene expression which is discussed in eleven articles on immune pathogenesis. The oncogenicity of hepatitis B virus at the molecular level and of hepatitis C virus at the epidemiological level is discussed in two chapters. The application of PCR for the detection of hepatitis viruses and their variants is a major topic of both practical and theoretical interest. The clinical significance of newly developed serological assays for diagnosis and prevention is discussed in depth by specialists from clinics, transfusion centers and virological laboratories. The therapy of chronic viral hepatitis is still unsatisfactory, but some slow progress is described in several articles. Furthermore, the volume has a special chapter on the often neglected topic of chronic hepatitis in childhood.

A number of economically important diseases are caused by potyviruses, the largest group of plant viruses. Many of these diseases are distributed worldwide. The development of effective control strategies against viruses is dependent on the availability of reliable methods of identification and detection. To date this has not seemed possible for the potyvirus group, because of its size, complexity, and immense variation. This book brings together the collaborative efforts of exports in the field. It summarizes characteristics of potyviruses which relate to their taxonomy and points to areas which require consideration before an international consensus can be reached. Main topics dealt with in detail are: serological relationships, nucleic acid sequence information, biological properties, and specific problems with several virus subgroups or pairs of viruses.

Scrapie, a naturally occurring neurodegenerative disease of sheep and sometimes goats, is a prototypic disease for the whole group of the subacute spongiform virus encephalopathies. Kuru was the first human disease of this type to be discovered in 1957 by Gajdusek and Zigas, and its discovery opened the whole field in the human biomedical sciences by the very realization of the fact that viruses may induce disease months or even decades after infections, and that these slow virus diseases are more compatible with classical degenerations of the nervous system than with inflammatory disorders of the brain. More than a quarter of a century since discovery of Kuru, and more than half a century following the first transmission of scrapie, the very nature of the infectious virus remains unknown.This comprehensive review covers all aspects of slow unconventional virus infections known today. It includes numerous historical data, biochemistry and molecular biology of the prion protein and its gene, the role of genetics and mutations within PrP gene, spreading and targeting of the virus, biochemistry and neurochemistry of the alterations of different neurotransmitter system and neuropathology. More than 1000 references are listed and critically analyzed; the reader can find references to all experiments and laboratory findings which has ever been done in this field. Furthermore, the book offers different view on the basic problems as for example, the nature of the scrapie agent.

Among unconventional agents and unclassified viruses the contributions to this volume focused on prion-related diseases, with special emphasis on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and human spongiform encephalopathies, and Borna disease virus, an agent known since long time to be pathogenic for horses and sheep, which is now discussed as a potential pathogen for humans. Additionally, the volume contains articles about newly discovered viruses like porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus and viruses that are classified only provisionally like African swine fever virus, hepatitis C and E viruses, or the arteriviruses.

This is an update of the molecular biology and clinical experience on the viruses which cause chronic hepatitis and liver carcinoma in humans and in model animals. Treatment of chronic hepatitis, reinfection after liver transplantation, in vitro replication of hepatitis B, C and D viruses, immunopathogenesis, variants of hepatitis viruses, oncogenicity, epidemiology and diagnosis and prevention are the major topics of the book. Thus, clinicians, laboratory physicians, molecular virologists and public health specialists may equally well profit from this book.

Positive-strand RNA viruses include the majority of the plant viruses, a number of insect viruses, and animal viruses, such as coronaviruses, togaviruses, flaviviruses, poliovirus, hepatitis C, and rhinoviruses. Works from more than 50 leading laboratories represent latest research on strategies for the control of virus diseases: molecular aspects of pathogenesis and virulence; genome replication and transcription; RNA recombination; RNA-protein interactions and host-virus interactions; protein expression and virion maturation; RNA replication; virus receptors; and virus structure and assembly. Highlights include analysis of the picornavirus IRES element, evidence for long term persistence of viral RNA in host cells, acquisition of new genes from the host and other viruses via copy-choice recombination, identification of molecular targets and use of structural and molecular biological studies for development of novel antiviral agents.

Rapid developments continue to take place in the research of viruses, the causative agents of infectious diseases in humans, animals, plants, invertebrates, protozoa, fungi, and bacteria. A still growing number of more than 30,000 viruses, virus strains, and subtypes are being tracked in various specialty laboratories and culture collections. In this situation of expansion and specialization, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses was founded to establish, refine and maintain a universal virus taxonomy system giving information to virologists about the characteristics of the different groups of viruses. The Committee's Sixth Report includes one order, 71 families, 11 subfamilies, and 175 genera and more than 4,000 member viruses. On 600 printed pages large amounts of molecular biologic data, illustrated by micrographs and virion diagrams, gene maps and tables give a comprehensive overview and prove helpful in teaching, in diagnostics, in scholarly research, and in the practical areas of medicine, veterinary medicine, plant pathology, insect pest management, and biotechnology. "...est une reference indispensable pour les chercheurs, les enseignants, les medecins ou les veterinaires mais aussi pour les etudiants et d'une maniere generale pour toutes les personnes interessees par la virologie".Revue de Medecine Veterinaire "...an excellent, well presented and informative volume. The report should be an essential reference volume for any department or organization involved in the study of viruses". Quarterly

Mobility oflarge parts of the human population, whether related to commercial necessity, touristic activities or to migration induced by war and social pressure, carried and carries the risk of spreading infections. Modem air travel effectively circumvents existing quarantine regulations as infected individuals thereby can reach almost every geographic location while stiIl in the incubation phase of the disease. Hence, infections previously restricted to distinet regions due to their strict association with non-human reservoirs or vectors can suddenly surface in non-endemic areas where lacking experience and technical means make clinical and laboratory diagnosis difficult. Excellent examples for such situations are many vector- or rodent-borne viruses but also hepatitis viruses, the human immunodeficiency virus and, last but not least, filoviruses. The following articles are based on papers presented at an international symposium on "Imported Virus Infections" heI d at the Max von Pettenkofer Institute, University ofMunich, Munich, Germany on March 31 to Aprill, 1995.They illustrate today's knowledge on the epidemiology, dynamics of spread, as weIl as the frequently limited possibilities of prevention and therapeutic treat- ment of associated disease. Special emphasis was placed on filovirus infections which, as if to highlight the topics of the symposium, reappeared and spread in Zaire in the first half of 1995. The symposium was dedicated to the memory of Friedrich Deinhardt M.D., virologist, professor and director of the Max von Pettenkofer Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology from 1977 unt il he died on April 30, 1992.

Recently, rapid developments have occurred in the field of viral gastroenteritis. This book is an update of fundamental and practical aspects of viral gastroenteritis. Among the various agents that cause viral gastroenteritis, group A rotaviruses and caliciviruses are the focus of this volume because of their clinical impact and the significance of new findings about them.

Since the central theme of this book is the transmission of disease agents through the food chain, we will examine influenza viruses from this perspective. Influenza A viruses are found in humans, pigs, horses, sea mammals, and also in wild aquatic and domestic birds [23]. How are they spread? Between mammals, influenza is an airborne infection, but between birds, influenza can be either an airborne or waterborne infection. Influenza viruses of aquatic birds periodically transmit to domestic birds sometimes with catastrophic effects; this transmis­ sion can be either airborne or waterborne. Less frequently, avian influenza viruses transmit to mammals and three to four times in the past century this transmission has initiated a pandemic of influenza in humans. The method of spread of avian influenza viruses to mammals remains unresolved, but could be either airborne or waterborne. In this report we will consider recent examples of interspecies transmission of influenza A viruses and the possible prevention of emergence of the next human pandemic which is considered imminent. The reservoirs of influenza A viruses The available evidence indicates that aquatic birds are the reservoirs of all 15 subtypes of influenza A viruses. We will first consider the replication of influenza A in aquatic birds. In wild ducks, influenza viruses replicate preferentially in the cells lining the intestinal tract, cause no disease signs, and 8 7 are excreted in high concentrations in the feces (up to 10 .

African horse sickness virus is a double-stranded RNA virus which causes a non-contagious, infectious arthropod-borne disease of equines and occasionally dogs. Nine distinct, internationally recognised serotypes of the virus have so far been identified.This book is based upon the findings of two programmes funded by the European Commission. It will be of value not only to the specialist research workers but also to veterinary workers dealing with control and tolegislators seeking to promote safe international movement of equines. The topics covered include state-of-the-art discussions on diagnostics, vaccines, molecular biology, vector studies, and epidemiology.

African horse sickness virus is a double-stranded RNA virus which causes a non-contagious, infectious arthropod-borne disease of equines and occasionally dogs. Nine distinct, internationally recognised serotypes of the virus have so far been identified.This book is based upon the findings of two programmes funded by the European Commission. It will be of value not only to the specialist research workers but also to veterinary workers dealing with control and tolegislators seeking to promote safe international movement of equines. The topics covered include state-of-the-art discussions on diagnostics, vaccines, molecular biology, vector studies, and epidemiology.

One hundred years ago, when Martinus W. Beijerinck in Delft and Friedrich Loeffler on Riems Island discovered a new class of infectious agents in plants and animals, a new discipline was born. This book, a compilation of papers written by well-recognized scientists, gives an impression of the early days, the pioneer period and the current state of virology. Recent developments and future perspectives of this discipline are sketched against a historic background. With contributions by A. Alcami, D. Baulcombe, F. Brown, L. W. Enquist, H. Feldmann, A. Garcia-Sastre, D. Griffiths, M. C. Horzinek, A. van Kammen, H.-D. Klenk, F. A. Murphy, T. Muster, R. O'Neill, P. Palese, C. Patience, R. Rott, H.- P. Schmiedebach, S. Schneider-Schaulies, G. L. Smith, J. A. Symons, Y. Takeuchi, V. ter Meulen, P. J. W. Venables, V. E. Volchkov, V. A. Volchkova, R. A. Weiss, W. Wittmann, H. Zheng

One hundred years ago, when Martinus W. Beijerinck in Delft and Friedrich Loeffler on Riems Island discovered a new class of infectious agents in plants and animals, a new discipline was born. This book, a compilation of papers written by well-recognized scientists, gives an impression of the early days, the pioneer period and the current state of virology. Recent developments and future perspectives of this discipline are sketched against a historic background. With contributions by A. Alcami, D. Baulcombe, F. Brown, L. W. Enquist, H. Feldmann, A. Garcia-Sastre, D. Griffiths, M. C. Horzinek, A. van Kammen, H.-D. Klenk, F. A. Murphy, T. Muster, R. O'Neill, P. Palese, C. Patience, R. Rott, H.- P. Schmiedebach, S. Schneider-Schaulies, G. L. Smith, J. A. Symons, Y. Takeuchi, V. ter Meulen, P. J. W. Venables, V. E. Volchkov, V. A. Volchkova, R. A. Weiss, W. Wittmann, H. Zheng

A comprehensive understanding of the biology of prion diseases is crucial for risk assessment as regards both humans and animals. To further the communication of the current knowledge and the exchange of diagnostic technologies in the scientific community, a symposium on the 'Characterization and Diagnosis of Prion Diseases' was held from September 23-25, 1999 in Tübingen, Germany. The overwhelming interest and the participation of more than 500 scientists from 26 countries made this symposium the largest meeting ever held in the field.In this Supplementum to Archives of Virology twenty-six invited speakers comprehensively present their data on the pathogenesis of prion diseases in humans and animals, on molecular mechanisms involved in the transmissibility across species barriers, on animal and in-vitro models currently available for the detection and quantification of infectivity and on the characterization of prion strains. This selection attempts to reflect the current state of the art, but cannot possibly represent the whole spectrum of research in the prion field.

A comprehensive understanding of the biology of prion diseases is crucial for risk assessment as regards both humans and animals. To further the communication of the current knowledge and the exchange of diagnostic technologies in the scientific community, a symposium on the 'Characterization and Diagnosis of Prion Diseases' was held from September 23-25, 1999 in Tübingen, Germany. The overwhelming interest and the participation of more than 500 scientists from 26 countries made this symposium the largest meeting ever held in the field.In this Supplementum to Archives of Virology twenty-six invited speakers comprehensively present their data on the pathogenesis of prion diseases in humans and animals, on molecular mechanisms involved in the transmissibility across species barriers, on animal and in-vitro models currently available for the detection and quantification of infectivity and on the characterization of prion strains. This selection attempts to reflect the current state of the art, but cannot possibly represent the whole spectrum of research in the prion field.

Under sponsorship of the National Institutes of Health of Japan, an international conference entitled "Immunity and Prevention of Herpes Zoster" was held in 1 Osaka, Japan, March 8-10, 1999. Attendees included basic and clinical investi­ gators from Asia, Europe, and North America. The meeting was organized to explore progress made in basic virology and molecular understanding of varicella zoster (VZV), and to provide information on current knowledge of latency of VZV in humans. Updates on the immunology responses of humans to VZV, and a description of the current status of varicella vaccine worldwide were also included. In addition, the possibility of prevent­ ing zoster in people latently infected with wild-type VZV by immunizing them with varicella vaccine was presented. The papers in this volume include written summaries of most of the presentations given at that conference. Coincidentally but appropriately, the conference marked the twenty-fifth or "silver anniversary" of the first publication of the development and use of live varicella vaccine to prevent varicella, by Takahashi and his colleagues. Because varicella vaccine is the first herpesvirus vaccine licensed in use for humans, it is of special interest to all individuals who studied these pathogens. In view of the interest in developing vaccines against other herpes viruses, there was also a presentation on the current status of vaccines against cytomegaloviruses (CMV) at the conference.