Viruses: A Very Short Introduction, Second Edition

Course overview

From pandemics such as HIV to swine flu and SARS, we are bombarded with information about new lethal infections. Separating myth from reality, this Very Short Introduction recounts the discovery of viruses and the unraveling of their intricate structures, demonstrating how these tiny parasites are the planet's most abundant life forms. In this edition, Dorothy Crawford, Emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology at University of Edinburgh, explores the recent Ebola and Zika epidemics and considers the importance of air travel in facilitating the international spread of viruses. Later chapters consider viruses that persist in the body for life, including tumor producing viruses. Looking to the future, she concludes with a look at the changing pattern of virus infections and speculates on the future challenges they present, including the impact of global warming on the spread of outbreaks.