A General part -- Historical overview -- Viruses: definition, structure, classification -- Virus proliferation and replication -- Pathogenesis -- Cell damage -- Transformation and carcinogenesis -- Immunology -- Cytokines, chemokines and interferons -- Chemotherapy -- Vaccines -- Epidemiology -- Virus evolution -- Laboratory methods for detection virus infections.- B Special part -- Viruses with single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes -- Viruses with single-stranded, non-segmented, negative-sense RNA genomes -- Viruses with single-stranded, segmented, negative-sense RNA genomes -- Viruses with double-stranded, segmented RNA genomes -- Viruses with single-stranded RNA genomes and double stranded DNA as intermediate products -- Viruses with a double-stranded DNA genome -- Viruses with a single-stranded DNA genome -- Prions.

The book gives a comprehensive overview on the knowledge of virus infection relevant for humans and animals. For each virus family the molecular details of the virus particle and the viral replication cycle are described. In the case of virus types with relevance for human and/or animal health the data on molecular biology, genetics and virus-cell interaction are combined with those concerning, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinics, prevention and therapy.