Immunobiology and pathogenesis of persistent virus infections

Virus persistence is little understood, but is a critically important aspect of numerous diseases, including viral hepatitis, AIDS, and herpes virus infections. Many of these persistent viruses may lie dormant in the human body, but may be reactivated in response to some stimulus; this fact is especially important when the human host is receiving immunosuppressive therapy - for example, following transplant surgery - or is otherwise immunocompromised, as in AIDS patients. Immunobiology and Pathogenesis of Persistent Virus Infections distills state-of-the-art research in the area of persistent virus infections. A distinguished group of contributing virologists explore the mechanisms by which various viruses, including HIV-1, herpes, measles, retroviruses, hepatitis, and lentiviruses, persist within the human host. The book considers viral persistence on three separate levels: persistence within the cell; persistence within the human individual; and persistence within the human population. Genetic changes associated with virus persistence are reviewed, and intervention strategies are discussed.