Hepatitis delta virus (HDV), which causes severe acute and chronic liver disease, was discovered nearly 30 years ago following the detection of a novel antigen-antibody system in hepatitis B virus carriers. HDV has continued to surprise and fascinate medical science ever since. This volume reviews recent developments in HDV research, from molecular virology to genetics to experimental investigation of new therapeutic and vaccine candidates.

Hepatitis Delta Virus is an up-to-date guide to hepatitis D virus (HDV), a human virus with a number of distinctive features. Each chapter of this book describes one of the broad aspects of HDV from virology to molecular biology, and from diagnosis to therapy.

New viral diseases are emerging continuously. Viruses adapt to new environments at astounding rates. Genetic variability of viruses jeopardizes vaccine efficacy. For many viruses mutants resistant to antiviral agents or host immune responses arise readily, for example, with HIV and influenza. These variations are all of utmost importance for human and animal health as they have prevented us from controlling these epidemic pathogens. This book focuses on the mechanisms that viruses use to evolve, survive and cause disease in their hosts. Covering human, animal, plant and bacterial viruses, it provides both the basic foundations for the evolutionary dynamics of viruses and specific examples of emerging diseases. - NEW - methods to establish relationships among viruses and the mechanisms that affect virus evolution - UNIQUE - combines theoretical concepts in evolution with detailed analyses of the evolution of important virus groups - SPECIFIC - Bacterial, plant, animal and human viruses are compared regarding their interation with their hosts

Hepatitis B and C cause most cases of hepatitis in the United States and the world. The two diseases account for about a million deaths a year and 78 percent of world's hepatocellular carcinoma and more than half of all fatal cirrhosis. In 2013 viral hepatitis, of which hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the most common types, surpassed HIV and AIDS to become the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. The world now has the tools to prevent hepatitis B and cure hepatitis C. Perfect vaccination could eradicate HBV, but it would take two generations at least. In the meantime, there is no cure for the millions of people already infected. Conversely, there is no vaccine for HCV, but new direct-acting antivirals can cure 95 percent of chronic infections, though these drugs are unlikely to reach all chronically-infected people anytime soon. This report, the second of two, builds off the conclusions of the first report and outlines a strategy for hepatitis reduction over time and specific actions to achieve them.

This is a concise, highly accessible introduction to medical virology, incorporating essential basic principles as well as a systematic review of viruses and viral diseases. It pays particular attention to developments in anti-viral therapy that are becoming increasingly effective in modern medicine. It is an ideal textbook for the information-overloaded student and an invaluable everyday companion for the busy professional who needs a good understanding of the current state of medical virology. In keeping with the highly successful format of other Illustrated Colour Texts, it presents the subject as a series of succinct 2 page 'learning units', using a superb collection of clear illustrations and clinical photographs, concise yet comprehensive text and key point boxes to aid quick access to information and examination preparation. So whether you are a medical student, junior doctor, medical scientist, trainee in infectious diseases or student on another allied medical course, this book is here to make your life easier! It will also provide a very solid foundation for any who plan to delve deeper into this fascinating field. - Part of the popular Illustrated Colour Text series - Information presented in double page spreads for easy learning - Highly illustrated with both full colour graphics and clinical photographs - Each spread includes a key point box for exam preparation

Molecular Virology of Human Pathogenic Viruses presents robust coverage of the key principles of molecular virology while emphasizing virus family structure and providing key context points for topical advances in the field. The book is organized in a logical manner to aid in student discoverability and comprehension and is based on the author's more than 20 years of teaching experience. Each chapter will describe the viral life cycle covering the order of classification, virion and genome structure, viral proteins, life cycle, and the effect on host and an emphasis on virus-host interaction is conveyed throughout the text. Molecular Virology of Human Pathogenic Viruses provides essential information for students and professionals in virology, molecular biology, microbiology, infectious disease, and immunology and contains outstanding features such as study questions and recommended journal articles with perspectives at the end of each chapter to assist students with scientific inquiries and in reading primary literature. - Presents viruses within their family structure - Contains recommended journal articles with perspectives to put primary literature in context - Includes integrated recommended reading references within each chapter - Provides access to online ancillary package inclusive of annotated PowerPoint images, instructor's manual, study guide, and test bank

Studies on Hepatitis Viruses: Life Cycle, Structure, Functions, and Inhibition presents the latest on this systemic infection that predominantly affects the liver with inflammation that can be acute or chronic. Hepatitis viruses have been the subject of intense study in the last twenty years, with a wealth of information related to their lifecycle, structure, functions and inhibition being presented. This book compiles the most important developments and research, giving users a very useful guide on this evolving area of virology and medicinal chemistry. - Provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art coverage of hepatitis virus infections, the virus' lifecycle, and mechanisms of protease inhibition - Analyzes structure-activity relationships of inhibitors of viral hepatitis - Presents an in-depth view of the structure and function of viral hepatitis - Discusses classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, natural history, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, complications, associated disorders and animal models

The scope of the book is very broad, covering a wide range of areas in HBV/HDV and HCV research, including both basic and clinical science. The selected topics range from epidemiology, immunology, molecular virology and oncology, to clinical therapy.Chronic Hepatitis B and C consists of 14 chapters, each being a review of a special topic on HBV or HCV. While review articles on a special topic can be found in periodical journals, they tend to be more restricted in presentation. Therefore, this book will provide more in-depth coverage of what are presented as "unpublished results" and "data not shown" in journal articles. Furthermore, several authors in this book do not write review articles regularly. Some authors wrote reviews on a specific topic regularly, but they tried a new topic in this book (e.g., Dr. YF Liaw on "natural course," Dr. Shih on "virion release," Dr. Michael Lai on "lymphotropism of HCV," etc. ⋯). Overall, the book will offer useful information at the cutting age.Sample Chapter(s)

This book is aimed to emphasize the rationale and importance of prevention and management of viral hepatitis in children, providing cutting edge knowledge. Viral hepatitis is a major health problem in the world. Although most complications of viral hepatitis are observed in adults, primary infection with hepatitis viruses often occurs during infancy or childhood. To better control viral hepatitis, prevention and therapy if possible should be started in childhood. This book offers updated and unique information about viral hepatitis in children, which has vitally important impact on global disease outcome and control, yet not discussed as frequently as viral hepatitis in adults in previous medical literature. Better prevention and management strategies are covered, starting from infancy and childhood, and even earlier during fetal life. It will be very helpful for better control of viral hepatitis both for daily practice and for developing future strategies and directions. If we can successfully control viral hepatitis in children, there will be very little remaining chronic hepatitis and related complications such as liver cirrhosis or hepatoma in adults. We hope readers, including medical students, researchers, pediatricians, family medicine physicians, infectious disease personnel, public health workers, gastroenterologists, hepatologists and parents of children with chronic hepatitis, will be benefited by reading this book.

In 1900, for every 1,000 babies born in the United States, 100 would die before their first birthday, often due to infectious diseases. Today, vaccines exist for many viral and bacterial diseases. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, passed in 1986, was intended to bolster vaccine research and development through the federal coordination of vaccine initiatives and to provide relief to vaccine manufacturers facing financial burdens. The legislation also intended to address concerns about the safety of vaccines by instituting a compensation program, setting up a passive surveillance system for vaccine adverse events, and by providing information to consumers. A key component of the legislation required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate with the Institute of Medicine to assess concerns about the safety of vaccines and potential adverse events, especially in children. Adverse Effects of Vaccines reviews the epidemiological, clinical, and biological evidence regarding adverse health events associated with specific vaccines covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), including the varicella zoster vaccine, influenza vaccines, the hepatitis B vaccine, and the human papillomavirus vaccine, among others. For each possible adverse event, the report reviews peer-reviewed primary studies, summarizes their findings, and evaluates the epidemiological, clinical, and biological evidence. It finds that while no vaccine is 100 percent safe, very few adverse events are shown to be caused by vaccines. In addition, the evidence shows that vaccines do not cause several conditions. For example, the MMR vaccine is not associated with autism or childhood diabetes. Also, the DTaP vaccine is not associated with diabetes and the influenza vaccine given as a shot does not exacerbate asthma. Adverse Effects of Vaccines will be of special interest to the National Vaccine Program Office, the VICP, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccine safety researchers and manufacturers, parents, caregivers, and health professionals in the private and public sectors.