The story of viruses and the story of humanity have been intertwined since the dawn of history. The first small cities formed not only the cradle of civilization, but the spawning ground for the earliest viral epidemics, the first opportunity for viruses to find a home in the human herd. Thisis a story of fear and ignorance, as everything from demons and the wrath of the gods to minority groups have been blamed for epidemics from smallpox to yellow fever to AIDS. It is a story of grief and heartbreak, as hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, are wiped out in a single year. And itis a story of great bravery and sacrifice, as doctors and nurses put themselves in harm's way to combat yellow fever in Memphis and Ebola in Zaire, and as researchers risk their own lives to test theories of vaccines and the transmission of disease. Now, in Viruses, Plagues, and History, Michael B.A. Oldstone tells all these stories as he illuminates the history of the devastating diseases that have tormented humanity. Oldstone focuses his tale on a few of the most famous viruses humanity has battled, beginning with some we have effectively defeated, such as smallpox, polio, and measles.

Concerned about several men who knew they were HIV positive but who elected not to monitor their T-cells, MacIntyre focused his investigation on the ways in which HIV-positive gay men in his own community interpreted their diagnoses and made treatment decisions. The result is a partly autobiographical (MacIntyre tested positive for HIV in 1985 and is as yet asymptomatic) and beautifully written collection of conversations between the author and several articulate, well-educated HIV-positive gay men. Mortal Men uncovers contrasting beliefs on health, illness, and medicine and raises psychological and sociocultural issues that influence medical and lifestyle decisions.The stories in Mortal Men show how several asymptomatic HIV-positive gay men in the early 1990s experienced the ministrations of their doctors and the pronouncements of the press; how these men either took up or resisted the ways in which their friends and community understood the disease and its treatments; how relationships to the health care system-ranging from complete trust to fragile trust to overt distrust or fear-affected treatment decisions. MacIntyre's chronicle preserves the humanity of his subjects and the insights that they developed in response to death. By showing how people construct new meanings for life in the face of death (and the technologies engineered to prevent it), Mortal Men offers new discernment and possibilities for people coping with serious illnesses.

HPV infections and their clinical consequences are a major disease burden. This book aims to provide an updated comprehensive summary of the available data in this multidisciplinary field. The different contributing experts, using the most recent information, provide updated in depth reviews on different aspects of HPV infections. The reader will discover how quickly interesting new data has been generated, not only on the immune-biology of this infection, but also on the more clinical aspects like the diagnostic approaches and techniques, the success of primary and secondary prevention, the follow-up in vaccinated cohorts or individuals, and the various treatment options.

The seminal text Plant Virology is now in its fifth edition. It has been 10 years since the publication of the fourth edition, during which there has been an explosion of conceptual and factual advances. The fifth edition of Plant Virology updates and revises many details of the previous edition while retaining the important earlier results that constitute the field's conceptual foundation. Revamped art, along with fully updated references and increased focus on molecular biology, transgenic resistance, aphid transmission, and new, cutting-edge topics, bring the volume up to date and maintain its value as an essential reference for researchers and students in the field. Thumbnail sketches of each genera and family groups Genome maps of all genera for which they are known Genetic engineered resistance strategies for virus disease control Latest understanding of virus interactions with plants, including gene silencing Interactions between viruses and insect, fungal, and nematode vectors Contains over 300 full-color illustrations