Rotaviruses

The proliferation of information on rotaviruses in the twenty years since their description as human pathogens has made it difficult to keep up with the latest developments in the field. Numerous aspects of rotavirus biology have been addressed in reviews, but these have been infrequent and quite selective in the material covered. The time appeared right to attempt to gather, into a single source, an overview of what we have learned. This volume is the result of that attempt. I hope that the reader will find in this single source, the core of information covering our current state of knowledge. I acknowledge my debt to the authors of the various chapters, for it is they who performed the tedious process of reviewing the literature and synthesizing and organizing it into concise works. R.F. RAMIG Contents Introduction and Overview R.F. RAMIG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Structure of Rotavirus B.V.V. PRASAD and W. CHIU .................... 9 The Rotavirus Genome U. DESSELBERGER and M.A. MCCRAE . . . . . . . . . . . 31 . . Rotavirus Protein Structure and Function G.W. BOTH, AR. BELLAMY, and D.B. MITCHELL 67 Rotavirus Replication J.T. PATTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 107 . . . . . . .

Klappentext

A comprehensive review is given of the various aspects ofrotavirus molecular biology and biology of infection, hostresponses to infection, andthe prospects for vaccines tocontrol rotavirus disease.The first few chapters review basic aspects of the group Arotaviruses, including chaptersspecifically devoted to thestructure of the rotavirion, the structure of the rotavirusgenome, and the structure and function of the viralproteins. Viral replication and genetics are discussed inseparatechapters. A series of chapters deals with antigenicstructure of the virus, the host response to infection, andthe pathology and pathophysiology of infection. Theinformation provided in these reviews is applied to theproblem of vaccine development in a subsequent chapter.Finally, theclosely related non-group A rotaviruses arediscussed and compared to and contrasted with group Arotaviruses.This book will enable readers to examine and evaluate thecurrent state of knowledge about the rotaviruses androtavirus disease, so that future directions of research andclinical application can be formulated.

Zusammenfassung
"ÄThis bookÜ is as comprehensive as twenty very diligent authors can make it, and the Editors opening chapter will provide an excellent overview for non-specialists." - Epidemiology and Infection

Inhalt
and Overview.- Structure of Rotavirus.- The Rotavirus Genome.- Rotavirus Protein Structure and Function.- Rotavirus Replication.- Genetics of the Rotaviruses.- Rotavirus Antigens.- Immunologic Determinants of Protection Against Rotavirus Disease.- Rotavirus Pathology and Pathophysiology.- Rotavirus Vaccines and Vaccination Potential.- Nongroup A Rotaviruses of Humans and Animals.