The Invisible Enemy: A Natural History of Viruses

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Though the Berlin Wall has fallen, we find ourselves still struggling with an even older enemy in the eternal Common Cold War. Virologist Dorothy H. Crawford has studied the link between Epstein-Barr virus and human cancer for years, and she casts a wary eye through the electron microscope to check up on them and report on our strange and occasionally deadly symbiosis in The Invisible Enemy.

This slim book, scholarly but accessible, examines these barely living (or unliving, depending on whom you ask) gene packages with a strong emphasis on their disease-causing antics and the intellectual heroics of the various campaigns of eradication and control humans have waged for centuries. Though biological relativists might cringe occasionally at Crawford's dogged humanocentrism, few of them would really pine for the days of smallpox or embrace the raging HIV pandemic if pressed. Crawford looks at the wake of devastation left by these two viruses as well as her own favorite subject, which is strongly implicated in the formation of many cancers. Going a bit farther afield, she explains the weird behavior of the nongenetic reproduction of prions that cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy; though these scary proteins aren't viruses by any definition, their behavior is similar enough to warrant inclusion. The Invisible Enemy, calmer than its title would suggest, provokes a sense of optimism in the reader. Though the war might last forever, we can hope for fewer and fewer casualties as the years go by. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

Viruses are disarmingly small and simple. Nevertheless, the smallpox virus killed over 300 million people in the twentieth century before it was eradicated in 1980. The AIDS virus, HIV, is now the world's biggest killer infection and is the single most common cause of death in Africa. In recent years, the outbreaks of several lethal viruses such as Ebola and hanta virus have caused great public concern and yet most people remain woefully ill informed. In this fascinating new book, Professor Crawford explains lucidly and accessibly all aspects of the natural history of these deadly parasites and discusses controversial subjects such as CFS and Gulf War Syndrome. The book then moves on to consider issues such as how man has coped with viruses in the past, where new viruses come from, and whether a new virus could wipe out the human race. In the last chapter the author attempts to answer the vital question; who will be the final victor - man or virus? In each case Professor Crawford tackles the question with enthusiasm, and illustrates her arguments with vivid and wide-ranging examples. The result is an informative and highly readable book which will be read by all those who seek a deeper understanding of these minute but remarkably efficient killers.

Customer Reviews:

Nice book.......2006-03-07

This is a nice book about viruses. The book is slightly technical, but reading it while able to access wikipedia should do it, if you want to understand each detail.

Recently I came across a theory came which says that viruses played a crucial role in the evolution of humans. After reading this book the above theory made sense to me.

amazing.......2005-06-22

I assumed this would be another text book style read consisting of sterile,bare bones info. I was very pleasantly surprised. This book is increadible. It reads like a novel and yet the info is present in every sentence. The author is clearly beyond knowledgable about the topic. I would recommend this book to anyone . Truely amazing!

Truly Infectious!.......2001-03-19

"The Invisible Enemy" offers a thorough and useful approach to virology without using excessive amounts of medical and scientific jargon. It is especially useful to those of us who have experienced a lapse in time since studying formal virology or medical microbiology. This book is an entertaining overview of several of the more recent discoveries in the field of virological infectious disease. It should be of interest to any student of the physical sciences, or researchers/practicioners of the medicinal craft.

Average customer rating:

Great for anyone interested in virology

Viral Ecology

Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0123626757

Book Description

Viral Ecology defines and explains the ecology of viruses by examining their interactions with their hosting species, including the types of transmission cycles that have evolved, encompassing principal and alternate hosts, vehicles, and vectors. It examines virology from an organismal biology approach, focusing on the concept that viral infections represent areas of overlap in the ecology of viruses, their hosts, and their vectors.

Key Features
* The relationship between viruses and their hosting species
* The concept that viral interactions with their hosts represents a highly evolved aspect of organismal biology
* The types of transmission cycles which exist for viruses, including their hosts, vectors, and vehicles
* The concept that viral infections represent areas of overlap in the ecology of the viruses, their hosts, and their vectors

Customer Reviews:

Great for anyone interested in virology.......2001-02-10

If you are interested in virology this is a great book, even if you are new to the field. This book gives a good overview of viruses and factors affecting virus transmission and infection in on both a general and specific level. It also covers some of the basics. One interesting thing in this book is a proposal for the adoption of a fourth domain (akamara) for viruses and how it would fit into the general scheme of taxonomy.

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