The time seems ripe for a critical compendium of that segment of the biological universe we call viruses. Virology, as a science, having passed only recently through its descriptive phase of naming and num­ bering, has probably reached that stage at which relatively few new­ truly new-viruses will be discovered. Triggered by the intellectual probes and techniques of molecular biology, genetics, biochemical cytology, and high resolution microscopy and spectroscopy, the field has experienced a genuine information explosion. Few serious attempts have been made to chronicle these events. This comprehensive series, which will comprise some 6000 pages in a total of about 18 volumes, represents a commitment by a large group of active investigators to analyze, digest, and expostulate on the great mass of data relating to viruses, much of which is now amorphous and disjointed, and scattered throughout a wide literature. In this way, we hope to place the entire field in perspective, and to develop an invalua­ ble reference and sourcebook for researchers and students at all levels. This series is designed as a continuum that can be entered anywhere, but which also provides a logical progression of developing facts and integrated concepts.

1 Viral Invasion: Morphological, Biochemical, and Biophysical Aspects.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Methods.- 3. Invasion of Cells by Naked Viruses.- 3.1. Adenoviruses.- 3.2. Papovaviruses.- 3.3. Parvoviruses.- 3.4. Reoviruses.- 3.5. Picornaviruses.- 4. Erythrocyte Membrane Structure in Relation to Viral Hemagglutination.- 5. Invasion of Cells by Enveloped Virus.- 5.1. Orthomyxoviruses.- 5.2. Paramyxoviruses.- 5.3. Morbilliviruses.- 5.4. Pneumoviruses.- 5.5. Rhabdoviruses.- 5.6. Toga viruses.- 5.7. RNA Tumor Viruses.- 5.8. Poxviruses.- 5.9. Herpesviruses.- 6. Summary and Conclusion.- 7. References.- 2 Viral Persistence: Evolution of Viral Populations.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Evolution of Virus in Persistence of RNA Viruses.- 2.1. Paramyxoviruses.- 2.2. Orthomyxoviruses.- 2.3. Rhabdoviruses.- 2.4. Togaviruses.- 2.5. Picornaviruses.- 2.6. Coronaviruses: Mouse Hepatitis Virus.- 2.7. Arenaviruses.- 2.8. Reoviruses.- 2.9. Retroviruses.- 3. Evolution of Virus in Persistence of DNA Viruses.- 3.1. Herpesviruses.- 3.2. Parvoviruses: Aleutian Disease Virus.- 4. Patterns of Evolution of Virus Properties in Persistent Infection.- 4.1. Antigenic Drift.- 4.2. Selection of Virus Mutants.- 4.3. Interaction between Selection of Virus Mutants and the Interferon System.- 4.4. Interference with Wild-Type Virus Replication by ts Mutants.- 5. References.- 3 Defective Interfering RNA Viruses and the Host-Cell Response.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Structure and Genome Arrangement of DI Particles.- 2.1. DI Particles of Negative-Strand Viruses.- 2.2. DI Particles of Positive-Strand Viruses.- 3. Mechanisms of DI-Particle Generation, Replication, and Interference.- 3.1. DI Particles of Negative-Strand Viruses.- 3.2. DI Particles of Positive-Strand Viruses.- 4. Role of DI Particles in Long-Term Viral Persistence.- 4.1. Negative-Strand Viruses.- 4.2. Positive-Strand Viruses.- 4.3. In Vivo Evidence of DI-Particle Protection.- 4.4. In Vivo Evidence of DI-Particle Persistence.- 5. Recent Preliminary Evidence for DI-Particle Involvement in Persistence of DNA Viruses.- 6. Conclusion.- 7. References.- 4 Persistence and Transmission of Cytomegalovirus.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Physical, Morphological, and Molecular Characteristics.- 3. Detection of Cytomegalovirus Infections.- 4. Clinical Disease.- 5. Latency and Persistence.- 6. Transmission.- 6.1. Congenital Infection.- 6.2. Natal Infection.- 6.3. Venereal Transmission.- 6.4. Blood Transfusions.- 6.5. Organ and Bone Transplants.- 7. In Vitro Transformation of Mammalian Cells.- 8. Association of Cytomegalovirus with Cancer in Humans.- 8.1. Prostatic Cancer.- 8.2. Kaposi Sarcoma.- 8.3. Adenocarcinoma of the Colon.- 8.4. Cervical Cancer.- 9. Vaccines and Antiviral Agents.- 10. Looking Ahead.- 11. References.- 5 Aleutian Disease of Mink: A Model for Persistent Infection.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Virus.- 2.1. Viral Etiology of Aleutian Disease.- 2.2. In Vivo Replication.- 2.3. Replication in Cell Culture.- 2.4. Purification and Properties.- 2.5. Structure and Classification.- 3. The Disease Process.- 3.1. Transmission.- 3.2. Pathology.- 3.3. Pathogenesis of Lesions.- 3.4. Diagnosis and Control.- 4. Immunological Aspects of Infection.- 4.1. Hypergammaglobulinemia.- 4.2. Immune Complexes.- 4.3. Viral-Specific Antibody.- 4.4. Effect on Unrelated Immune Responses.- 5. Genetic Aspects.- 5.1. Influence of Viral Strain on Disease.- 5.2. Influence of Host Genotype on Viral Persistence and Disease.- 6. Discussion.- 7. References.- 6 Role of Viruses in Chronic Neurological Diseases.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Mechanisms of Virus Dissemination to the CNS.- 2.1. Systemic Barriers.- 2.2. CNS Barriers.- 2.3. Documented Pathways of Virus Entry.- 2.4. Spread of Viruses within the CNS.- 2.5. Differential Susceptibility within the CNS.- 3. Mechanisms of Viral Clearance from the CNS.- 3.1. Immune Responses in the CNS.- 3.2. Failure of Virus Clearance in Immunodeficient Hosts.- 3.3. Viral Persistence in Immunologically Intact Hosts.- 4. Mechanisms of Chronic Disease Induction.- 4.1. Chronic Neurological Diseases as Sequelae of Acute Infections.- 4.2. Chronic Disease and Persistent Infection.- 4.3. Chronic Disease as a Manifestation of Latent or Recurrent Infections.- 5. Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathies.- 5.1. Clinical Diseases.- 5.2. Pathogenesis of Spongiform Encephalopathies.- 5.3. Nature of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Agents.- 6. Human Disease of Suspected Viral Etiology.- 6.1. Multiple Sclerosis.- 6.2. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.- 6.3. Parkinson's Disease.- 6.4. Continuous Focal Epilepsy.- 6.5. Alzheimer's Disease.- 7. Conclusions.- 8. References.- 7 Host Plant Responses to Virus Infection.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Kinds of Host Response.- 3. Influence of Host Genotype.- 3.1. Immunity.- 3.2. Resistance and Hypersensitivity.- 3.3. Mechanisms of Resistance.- 3.4. Tolerance.- 3.5. Kind of Symptoms.- 4. Influence of the Viral Genome.- 5. Possible Mechanisms of Disease Induction.- 5.1. Sequestration of Raw Materials.- 5.2. Direct Effects of the Virus.- 5.3. Effects of Nonstructural Viral Polypeptides.- 6. Organelle Responses.- 6.1. Nuclei.- 6.2. Mitochondria.- 6.3. Chloroplasts.- 6.4. Cell Walls.- 7. Cellular Responses.- 7.1. Necrosis.- 7.2. Hypoplasia.- 7.3. Hyperplasia.- 7.4. Cell Division in Differentiated Cells.- 7.5. Reduced Responsiveness to Stimuli.- 7.6. Responses of Cultured Plant Cells.- 7.7. Nodulation in Legumes.- 8. Plant Responses.- 8.1. Limitation of Infection Near the Site of Infection.- 8.2. Systemic Acquired Resistance.- 8.3. Stunting.- 8.4. Epinasty and Leaf Abscission.- 8.5. Abnormal Growth.- 8.6. Mosaic Disease and Leaf Development.- 8.7. Responses of the Host Plant Genome.- 9. Use of Protoplasts to Study Host Responses.- 9.1. Structural Changes in Organelles.- 9.2. Studies on Dark Green Tissue from Virus-Induced Mosaics.- 9.3. Nature of the Hypersensitive Response.- 10. References.