The text includes historical perspectives in conjunction with the clinical, epidemiological and molecular aspect of viral diseases.

Features high quality, full-color images throughout!

Virus Files sections throughout the text connect a virus chapter topic to research or virology techniques currently being done or utilized in the field.

Refresher Boxes assist students who may need to brush up on biological concepts introduced in introductory biology courses.

Includes an informative chapter on the history of medicine, clinical trials, xenotransplantation and gene therapy.

Contemporary case studies and questions throughout discuss real-world scenarios, enhancing student learning.

Presents numerous chapters on human viral disease as well as chapters on prions and viroids, plant viruses, bacteriophages, and new and re-emerging viruses.

The development and creation of this text was supported by a National Science Foundation grant.