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Viruses

A Natural History
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( 18 ratings, 3 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Viruses by Dr Marilyn J. Roossinck offers a comprehensive, richly illustrated introduction to the fascinating world of viruses. Explaining their diversity, life cycles, and behaviours in an accessible style, the book covers everything from the origins of viruses and how they evolve and transmit to the complex interactions with their hosts, including immunity and vaccination. It also highlights viruses' beneficial roles in ecosystems and their critical presence in global health, with profiles of key viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza.
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Format: Hardback
$6999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers seeking an entry-level yet thorough understanding of viruses, including students, educators, and anyone interested in health, wellness, and microbiology. Its non-technical approach makes it accessible to a wide audience keen to grasp the vital roles viruses play beyond disease.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to the world of viruses.

As parasites that are often hundreds of times smaller than bacteria, viruses exist in and on everything, everywhere. Rapidly evolving, they are highly opportunistic and relentlessly efficient. While some viruses are obviously agents of disease, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world only too well, others can be beneficial, helping to protect their hosts from other microbes, or allowing hosts to function in otherwise impossible ways. In Viruses, virus expert and author Marilyn Roossinck presents a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to viruses that reveals their true nature.

Using lively text, clear graphics, and beautiful imagery, Viruses examines all the aspects of viruses that are essential for understanding them—their diversity, behaviours, life cycles, and much more. Written in a non-technical and easy-to-follow style, the book covers what viruses are and where they come from; how they transmit and evolve; the battle between viruses and hosts, including immunity and vaccination; viruses that are good for us; the critical role viruses play in the balance of earth's ecosystems; what makes a virus—including COVID-19 and influenza—become pandemic in plants or animals; and the cutting-edge research that is discovering thousands of new viruses. Each chapter concludes with stunningly illustrated profiles that highlight key viruses.

In a world where understanding viruses is more important than ever, Viruses offers a rich and inviting introduction to organisms that, for all the harm they can do, are also essential for the health of animals, plants, and the world we share.

Series: The Lives of the Natural World

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Viruses has been praised as an outstanding academic title and an excellent introduction to virology. Reviewers commend Roossinck's engaging and clear writing style and vivid illustrations, noting the book's ability to inspire and enhance understanding of viral biology and ecology. It is described as both fascinating and timely, emphasising the complexity and essential nature of viruses in our world.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691237596

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 May 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Illustration: 150 color illus.

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 191.0mm

Height: 241.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Marilyn J. Roossinck is professor emeritus of virus ecology at Pennsylvania State University. She spent her career working on the ecology and evolution of viruses, focusing on plant and fungal viruses, and she pioneered the research areas of plant virus discovery and beneficial viruses. She is the author of Virus: An Illustrated Guide to 101 Incredible Microbes (Princeton).

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