Quasispecies: Concept and Implications for Virology (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology Book 299)

Continuous genetic variation and selection of virus subpopulations in the course of RNA virus replications are intimately related to viral disease mechanisms. The central topics of this volume are the origins of the quasispecies concept, and the implications of quasispecies dynamics for viral populations. What Is A Quasispecies? / C.k. Biebricher And M. Eigen -- Quasispecies In Time-dependent Environments / C.o. Wilke, R. Forster, And I.s. Novella -- Viruses As Quasispecies :biological Implications / E. Domingo, V. Martin, C. Perales, A. Grande-perez, J. Garcia-arriaza, And A. Arias -- Virus Fitness: Concept, Quantification, And Application To Hiv Population Dynamics / M.e. Quinones-mateu And E.j. Arts -- Population Bottlenecks In Quasispecies Dynamic / C. Escarmis, E. Lazaro, And S.c. Manrubia -- Evolutionary Dynamics Of Hiv-1 And The Control Of Aids / J.i. Mullins And M.a. Jensen -- Evolution Of Virulence In Picornaviruses / S. Tracy, N.m. Chapman, K.m. Drescher, K. Kono, And W. Tapprich -- Molecular Mechanisms Of Poliovirus Variation And Evolution / V.i. Agol -- Hepatitis C Virus Population Dynamics During Infection / J.-m. Pawlotsky -- Evolutionary Influences In Arboviral Disease / S.c. Weaver -- Arenavirus Diversity And Evolution: Quasispecies In Vivo / N. Sevilla And J.c. De La Torre -- Mutant Clouds And Occupation Of Sequence Space In Plant Rna Viruses / M.j. Roossinck And W.l. Schneider -- Parvovirus Variation For Disease: A Difference With Rna Viruses? / A. Lopez-bueno, L.p. Villarreal, And J.m. Almendral -- Transitions In Understanding Of Rna Viruses: Ahistorical Perspective / J.j. Holland. E. Domingo (ed.). Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Viruses exploit genetic variation in their constant interaction with host cells. Remarkable among the adaptive strategies, RNA viruses, and probably some DNA viruses, generate complex mutant swarms termed viral quasispecies. The central topics of this volume are the origins of the quasispecies concept and the implications of quasispecies dynamics for viral populations. Some chapters emphasize general concepts (quasispecies, sequence space, fitness, error catastrophe, lethal defection, adaptive responses, population bottlenecks, etc.) and others the population dynamics of specific viruses such as picornaviruses, pestiviruses, arenaviruses, arboviruses, human immunodeficiency virus, plant viruses and some DNA viruses that display features of RNA genetics, as well as the implications of quasispecies dynamics in vivo. The volume provides an in-depth review of quasispecies and discusses possible avenues for further research.