Molecular and Cellular Biology of Viruses 2nd edition (second edition)

About this book

Molecular and Cellular Biology of Viruses 2nd edition by Phoebe Lostroh examines how viruses reproduce, express their genomes, interact with host cells, evade immune defenses, and evolve. The book emphasizes molecular and cellular mechanisms while using medically important and well studied viruses to connect fundamental virology with infection, disease, immunity, and therapeutic applications.

The 2nd edition covers the viral replication cycle, attachment, penetration, uncoating, assembly, release, and maturation. Separate chapters examine gene expression and genome replication in bacteriophages, positive strand RNA viruses, negative strand RNA viruses, double stranded RNA viruses, DNA viruses, retroviruses, and hepadnaviruses. Additional coverage includes persistent infections, virus host interactions, innate and adaptive immune evasion, antiviral drugs, vaccine development, viral diversity, origins, evolution, and the relationship between virology and public health.

This textbook is intended especially for upper level undergraduate students studying virology, microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, and related life sciences. Its combination of molecular mechanisms, primary literature examples, medically important viruses, end of chapter analytical questions, and coverage of plant viruses and bacteriophages supports both classroom learning and deeper study of viral biology.

Advanced undergraduate students, virology students, microbiology students, and molecular and cellular biology students can use this edition to compare viral replication strategies, analyze virus host interactions, understand immune evasion, and connect molecular mechanisms with antiviral and vaccine development. The 2024 2nd edition is available as a searchable PDF enhanced digital version with instant access for coursework, research preparation, examination study, and virology review.