Main description:

The time seems ripe for a critical compendium of that segment of the biological universe we call viruses. Virology, as a science, having only recently passed through its descriptive phase of naming and num bering, has probably reached that stage at which relatively few new truly new-viruses will be discovered. Triggered by the intellectual probes and techniques of molecular biology, genetics, biochemical cytology, and high-resolution microscopy and spectroscopy, the field has experienced a genuine information explosion. Few serious attempts have so far been made to chronicle these events. This comprehensive series, which will comprise some 6000 pages in a total of about 22 volumes, represents a commitment by a large group of active investigators to analyze, digest, and expostulate on the great mass of data relating to viruses, much of which is now amorphous and disjointed and scattered throughout a wide literature. In this way, we hope to place the entire field in perspective as well as to develop an invaluable reference and sourcebook for researchers and students at all levels. This series is designed as a continuum that can be entered anywhere but which also provides a logical progression of developing facts and integrated concepts.

Contents:

1 Reproduction of Rhabdoviruses.- 1. Descriptive Biology.- 1.1 Definition.- 1.2. Morphology.- 1.3. Classification of Rhabdoviruses.- 1.4. Some Genetic Considerations.- 2. Structural Components and Their Functions.- 2.1. Chemical Composition of Virions.- 2.2. Structure-Function Relationships of Virion Components.- 3. Replication.- 3.1. Physiology.- 3.2. RNA Synthesis.- 3.3. Protein Synthesis and Maturation.- 3.4. Cellular Reactions to Infection.- 3.5. Inhibition of Growth.- 4. References.- 2 Reproduction of Paramyxoviruses.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1. Members of the Paramyxovirus Group.- 1.2. General Biological Properties.- 2. Virions.- 2.1. Morphology.- 2.2. Composition.- 2.3. Fine Structure and Arrangement of Virion Components.- 3. Replication.- 3.1. General Comments.- 3.2. Adsorption.- 3.3. Penetration and Uncoating.- 3.4. Biosynthesis.- 3.5. Assembly.- 4. Defective Virus and Viral Interference.- 4.1. Defective Virions.- 4.2. Effect of Host Cell.- 4.3. Interference by Defective Virions.- 4.4. Other Forms of Interference.- 5. Cytopathic Effects of Paramyxoviruses.- 6. Alterations in Cellular Macromolecular Synthesis.- 6.1. Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis.- 6.2. Cellular Lipid and Carbohydrate Synthesis.- 6.3. Cell Fusion.- 6.4. Agglutinability of Infected Cells by Plant Lectins.- 7. Persistent Infections.- 7.1. In Cultured Cells.- 7.2. Persistent Infection in the Whole Animal.- 8. Genetics.- 9. References.- 3 Reproduction of Myxoviruses.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Influenza Virion.- 2.1. Morphology.- 2.2. Composition.- 2.3. Fine Structure and Arrangement of Viral Components.- 2.4. Biological Functions of Virion Components.- 3. Replication.- 3.1. Adsorption.- 3.2. Penetration.- 3.3. Biosynthesis.- 3.4. Assembly.- 3.5. Release.- 4. Incomplete Virus Formation.- 4.1. Biological Properties.- 4.2. Host Cell Dependence.- 4.3. Morphological and Biochemical Properties.- 4.4. Mechanism of Incomplete Virus Formation.- 4.5. Abortive Infection.- 5. Virus Effects on Cells.- 5.1. Alterations in Biosynthesis.- 5.2. Morphological Changes.- 5.3. Agglutinability by Lectins.- 6. Influenza Virus Genetics.- 7. Antigenic Variation.- 8. References.- 4 Reproduction of RNA Tumor Viruses.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1. Production and Assay of RTV.- 1.2. Detection of Virus Particles.- 2. Virion Structure.- 2.1. Purification and Physical Properties.- 2.2. Chemical Composition.- 2.3. Virion Lipids.- 2.4. Viral Proteins.- 2.5. Viral RNA.- 2.6. Reverse Transcriptase.- 2.7. Other Enzymes.- 2.8. Organization of Virion Components.- 3. The Reproductive Cycle.- 3.1. Initial Interactions.- 3.2. Synthesis of Viral DNA.- 3.3. Mitosis and the Reproductive Cycle.- 3.4. Synthesis of Viral RNA.- 3.5. Synthesis of Viral Proteins.- 3.6. Assembly of the Virion.- 3.7. The Role of Mitochondria.- 4. Genetics of RNA Tumor Viruses.- 4.1. Phenotypic Mixing.- 4.2. Genetic Recombination.- 4.3. Mutants of RTV.- 5. Virus Genes and Cellular Genes.- 5.1. Virogenes and Oncogenes.- 5.2. Proviruses and Protoviruses.- 6. A Model for Virus Reproduction and Viral Transformation.- 7. References.