Elimination of measles and poliomyelitis diseases from the globe is a priority goal of the World Health Organization. For the first time, in a single volume comprising thirty-one well-documented chapters, internationally recognized experts provide a state-of-the-art treatment of these two important viral diseases. The book offers a wide range of new findings and references on the latest advances regarding the measles and poliomyelitis: global and molecular genetic epidemiology, characteristics and diseases surveillance all available vaccines and research to produce more safe and more...

The development of invertebrate and fish tissue cultures, the characterization and application of new cell lines for the evaluation of physiological and endocrinological cell parameters, cell differentiation, gene expression and pathological and microbiological problems are treated in detail. New techniques for the production of specific proteins in vitro are described. Highlights derive from results of studies on the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation using DNA mediated gene transfer techniques, on the influence of ecdysterone on the differentiation of embryonic cells, and on...

The main purpose of the volume Psychiatry and Biological Factors is to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of the current research linked essentially to virus infections, immunity functions, and mental diseases. In recent years substantial advances have been registered in the physiopathol ogy of mental and neurological disorders. As a result, partial control of certain psychoses, anxiety syndromes, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease is now possible. However, despite progress in biomedical research, numerous mental and neuro logical disorders afflict up to 15% of all individuals...

Attention to viral infections and pathology previously focussed on diseases of economically important fish. In recent years, however, much new information on molecular virology and oncogenicity derives from viruses occurring in amphibians. New insights into the field of zoonosis were gained by studies of lower vertebrates serving as intermediate hosts in multiple human infections. Certain viruses, e.g. the influenza virus or calicivirus, seem capable of bridging species lines and even the land - sea interface. Global developments in aquaculture are indicated in influenza pandemics. These...

Virus Variability and Impact on Epidemiology and Control of Diseases E. Kurstak and A. Hossain I. INTRODUCTION An important number of virus infections and their epidemic developments demonstrate that ineffec- tiveness of prevention measures is often due to the mutation rate and variability of viruses (Kurstak et al., 1984, 1987). The new human immunodeficiency retroviruses and old influenza viruses are only one among several examples of virus variation that prevent, or make very difficult. the production of reliable vaccines. It could be stated that the most important factor limiting the...

Viral Vaccines Joseph L. Melnick As with history in general, the history of vaccines needs to be reexamined and updated. My task is to look back to see what has been successful and to look forward to see what remains to be accomplished in the prevention of viral diseases by vaccines. Also, I shall refer to the pertinent material discussed at two recent conferences of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, on virus vaccines under development and their target populations in the United States (1985b) and in developing countries (1986). These reports, plus a third on Vaccine...