Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction to viruses -- Eukaryotic molecular biology and host cell constraints -- Virus replication cycles -- Virus architecture and nomenclature -- Laboratory diagnosis of viral diseases -- Mechanisms of viral entry and spread of infection in the body -- Host resistance to viral infections -- Epidemiology -- The history of medicine, clinical trials, gene therapy, and xenotransplantation -- Viruses and cancer -- Poliovirus and other enteroviruses -- Influenza viruses -- Rabies -- Poxviruses -- Herpesviruses -- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -- Hepatitis viruses -- New viruses and viruses that are reemerging -- What about prions and viroids? -- Plant viruses -- The best for last: bacteriophages.