Neuroviral Infections: RNA Viruses and Retroviruses PDF

Preface

Neurovirology is an interdisciplinary field that represents a melding of virology, clinical neuroscience, molecular biology, and immunology. Apart from clinical neuroscience, neurovirology includes molecular virology, biochemical virology, diagnostic virology, and molecular pathogenesis and is inextricably bound to the field of immunology. Neurovirology became an established field within the past 30 years. Since then, there has been a tremendous explosion of information related to viral infections of the central nervous system, and, also, several new viruses have been discovered. The aim of this book is to present an up-to-date overview on major RNA viruses and retrovirus-mediated neuroviral infections to virologists, specialists in infectious diseases, teachers of virology, and postgraduate students of medicine, virology, neurosciences, or immunology. We hope that it will serve as a useful resource for all others interested in the field of viral infections of the central nervous system.

An inclusive and comprehensive book such as this is clearly beyond the capacity of an individual's effort. Therefore, we are fortunate and honored to have a large panel of internationally renowned virologists as chapter contributors, whose detailed knowledge on viral neuroinfections have greatly enriched this book.

We conceptualized this book in two sections. Section I includes the major RNA virus chapters and Section II concludes with the specific information pertinent to individual major retroviruses and their diseases. Each chapter consists of a review on the classification, epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of one or a group of related viruses.

The professionalism and dedication of executive editor Barbara Norwitz and senior project coordinator Jill Jurgensen at CRC Press greatly contributed to the final presentation of the book. Our appreciations extend to our families for their understanding and support during the compilation of this book.