Discusses interactions between viruses and their host cells, with emphasis on use of viruses in basic studies in cell biology, virology, and immunology. Describes the architecture of viruses and viral antigens (including HIV), investigates virus entry and virus receptors, and reports on intracellular traffic of viral proteins. Also discusses emerging concepts in viral pathogenesis, including molecular pathogenesis of the slow infection visna, MHC class 1 antigens and tumorigenesis, and the basis of Sindbis virus neurovirulence.

Viruses are absolutely and strictly dependent on target host cells for their replication. However, they have their own unique strategies at each replication step from the entry into cells, transcription, translation, assembly of viral genome/proteins, and up to the release of progeny virions from cells. We virologists have to understand these complex biological interactions between viruses and host cells. Importantly, extensive studies based on bio-structural technology have revealed in succession the detailed and bottom line mechanisms of viral replication processes otherwise impossible. We now know the highly dynamic nature of viral genome/proteins, and are impressed by their ingeniously organized functionality in hostile host environments. For characterization of viruses as a unique genetic entity and pathogenic agent, it has been critical to investigate thoroughly the individual viral components and host factors involved in the virus replication cycle. Because many viral and cellular factors essential for viral replication and pathogenicity have been newly discovered through the efforts of virologists, the necessity of contribution to the progress of virology by the structural biology is now greatly increasing. To fully understand precise mechanisms underlying the functional interaction of viral and host molecules, needless to say, it is crucially required to have their structural information. We need to know molecular details of the nucleic acids, proteins, and interacting molecules. The information indispensable for understanding certain biological phenomena may only be provided by high-resolution three-dimensional structures. Of note, a number of anti-viral drugs have been generated based on the structural information. The interacting interfaces between virus and host components, which are important for viral replication, can be potent targets for anti-viral drugs. Their structural characterization would lead to designing rigid anti-viral drugs and/or vaccines. In this Research Topic, we wish to summarize and review what the structural biology has accomplished so far to resolve the important virological issues. We also wish to describe the perspective of the structural biology for the future virology. Finally, the presentation of ongoing original works is greatly encouraged.

For a virus to invade a host cell it needs to penetrate the physical barrier imposed by the plasma membrane. Viruses have evolved specialized surface proteins to meet this challenge. These proteins facilitate delivery of the viral genetic information into the host cell by either fusing the viral envelope with a host cell membrane or by forming membrane pores. Membrane fusion and pore formation critically depend on the engagement of host cell receptors and receptor choice is a key determinant of viral tropism. The multi-faceted interplay between viral and cellular factors during virus entry is a fascinating field of study, which can provide important insight into viral pathogenesis and define new targets for intervention. This book provides a comprehensive overview of this exciting field of research.

This book addresses the innovative themes in characterizing the cellular membrane platforms and intracellular networking, as well as the architectural aspects of cell compartments mediated by the entry and replication cycles of viruses. The instrumentation of modern molecular and cellular biology provides a potent array of wave packets to image, detect and manipulate major dynamics of macromolecular and subviral assemblies as in the host cellular context.The book includes case studies presented with highly coherent and structured illuminations, including microscopy, spectroscopy and scanning probes. The compilation and integration of the methodology provides time-resolved observations on the reactivity of structures from near-atomic resolution to various molecular or cellular levels of descriptors. The book provides a broad introduction to the various fascinating virus systems and may be used as an advanced textbook by graduate students in biomedicine. It provides adequate background material to explore further the research problems of epidemics in the 21st century.

The Ebola and Marburg viruses are a pair of filoviruses that are among the most lethal hemorrhagic viruses on the planet. The authors present a review of past and current research into these pathogens, including 12 papers addressing the structure of the viral proteins; genomic replication; molecular mechanisms of entry; pathogenesis in nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, and mice; virus modulation of innate immunity; and cellular and molecular mechanisms of Ebola pathogenicity and related approaches to vaccine development.