This current book provides an overview of current research on bacteriophages. Chapter One discusses bacteriophages of pathogenic vibrios, identification and differentiation. Chapter Two reviews recent literature about the application of phages for the biocontrol of microorganisms in meat and meat products, with a particular emphasis on chicken, beef and pork in order to shed light on the efficacy of such strategy for the prevention and/or eradication of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in foods and food processing environments. Chapter Three studies the synthesis of the divalent cation requirements for efficient adsorption of bacteriophage onto bacterial cells. Chapter Four focuses on the isolation and evaluation of the lytic spectrum of bacteriophages active against food-borne bacteria. Chapter Five presents data about the history and present-day of using bacteriophage preparations in treatment and prevention of various infectious diseases, in particular of suppurative-inflammatory diseases of the respiratory organs. Chapter Six reviews phagebiotics in treatment and prophylaxis of healthcare-associated infections.

This book describes the seven different classification of viruses, including their effects on common human diseases (i.e., common cold, chicken pox) as well as the more serious diseases (AIDS, avian influenza and SARS). The nature of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first human retrovirus and the etiologic agent of neoplastic disease, adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) is explored, as well as its effect on several inflammatory diseases. Since 1997, great concern aroused that the Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus might turn into a pandemic strain. Thus, the enigmatic nature of the HPAI H5N1 influenza virus is also discussed. An attempt is made to identify and to characterise, qualitatively, various concrete factors that may readily become or propel critical masses. Furthermore, giant viruses, which are ancient double-stranded DNA viruses that infect a wide range of host organisms are addressed. This book also highlights current information regarding the replication, transcription, and roles of proteins of coronaviruses, viruses which are known to infect a wide range of mammalian and bird species.

Insects are a major group of arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the earth, with over a million described species. In common with all other life forms, insects suffer from viruses that cripple and kill. Admittedly, insects transmit viruses that cause illness in humans, but the insect in such cases is usually unaffected. This book includes research on such viruses affecting humans. Also included in this book are the ways to recognize insect viruses and their use in pest control. Basic and applied research on insect virus proteins associated with the peroral infectivity is reviewed as well. Furthermore, RNAi has been applied to a number of studies involved in insect immunity. Thus, the effect of RNA interference on viral infections is also studied.

Viral Fusion Mechanisms presents the first comprehensive review on this exciting topic. The book focuses on molecular mechanisms rather than phenomonology and examines a wide range of viruses, including influenza, HIV, Sendai, SFV, Vaccinia, VSV, and RSV. Recent theoretical work on dissecting protein-mediated membrane fusion is discussed, and the most promising new technologies for elucidating mechanisms are highlighted.
Viral Fusion Mechanisms is an essential reference for biophysicists, cell biologists, colloid chemists, immunologists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, and virologists.

This book presents a wide variety of immuno-gold techniques for use in virus diagnosis and research. Protocols are presented for state-of-the-art techniques, including in situ hybridization, freeze substitution, and the utilization of ultra-small probes and replicas for use by virologists and electron microscopists identifying and studying viruses, their components, and replication in cells. The procedures are described by eminent scientists and are pertinent to both experienced researchers and newcomers to this field who are interested in the localization of low antigenic mass structures.

The past twenty years have seen a steady increase in the number of viruses, of both man and animals, that predispose to the development of cancer. The mechanisms involved are now being elucidated and the means of intervention seem, at least in some instances, close at hand. This volume reviews the current knowledge of oncogenic viruses, their mechanism of action and the prospect for vaccination or therapy. Whilst the emphasis is on viruses of man - papillomaviruses, Epstein Barr Virus, Hepatitis B Virus and Human T cell Leukaemia Virus - the impact of animal studies is recognised by the inclusion of five chapters on oncogenic viruses of animals.

The Encyclopedia of Plant Viruses and Viroids provides an up-to-date information on the viruses and viroids infecting all types of cultivated and weed plants at global level; and is unique among plant virology texts as it is organized alphabetically by the genus name of the host plant infected. It allows the reader to readily determine all of the different viruses currently reported naturally infecting the plant genus and species. Information is provided for each virus and viroids on common synonyms, current taxonomic status, geographical distribution, symptoms induced, other known hosts, means of transmission and properties of both the virus particles and the genome. Where ever the same virus is known to infect multiple hosts, host-specific information, biological properties and genome characters are presented under each host affected. The index can be utilized to identify other crops infected by the same virus, showing which other crops might be at risk of infection in the event of introduction of a virus that has not previously reported in an area, or which might serve as potential virus reservoirs for infection of more sensitive or economically important crops than the host in which it is initially identified. The taxonomy and nomenclature of the viruses and viroids are followed based on the current guidelines of the 10th ICTV Report, covering up to 2018 and also about many new viruses and viroids that have been reported but not yet recognized as species by ICTV, have been included in this Encyclopedia. The uniqueness of this Encyclopedia is that all the known viruses and viroids affecting more than 1010 plant species at global level are described and the plant species are arranged in alphabetical order of the scientific name of the plant along the relevant information on 1518 viruses and viroids and is the ready-reckoner of the global plant species and their viruses and viroids for students, scientists, teachers of Plant Pathology& Virology; and also for the crop protection professionals, agricultural policymakers, seed companies and quarantine agencies.