Novel and Re-emerging Respiratory Viral Diseases

The past decade has seen mounting global concern regarding viral outbreaks such as SARS, avian influenza and West Nile virus. In 2004 and 2005, reports of bird-to-human, and possible human-to-human, transmissions of the H5N1 influenza viruses raised fears that these viruses could cause a pandemic on the scale of the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Previous to this, a novel coronavirus had been identified as the aetiological agent of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a new respiratory viral disease that emerged at the end of 2002 and caused profound disturbances in over 30 countries worldwide in 2003. It is not known whether the SARS coronavirus will re-emerge, especially since its origins and potential reservoir(s) are unresolved. However, these outbreaks have shown that these viruses can emerge in any part of the world at any time. This book critically evaluates the latest scientific evidence on novel or re-emerging viral diseases and brings together contributions from world experts on this topic, explaining best practice in their area, and discussing lessons learned and how best to collaborate to prevent and control future outbreaks. Topics covered include: the latest advances in virology, particularly in the area of epidemiology diagnostics animal models for viral infection antiviral and vaccine development Novel and Re-emerging Respiratory Viral Diseases offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary account of all aspects of the topic, from basic molecular biology to public health issues, and is therefore essential reading for virologists, infectious disease specialists, public health managers, researchers and epidemiologists, as well as those working in vaccine development, pharmaceutical medicine and drug discovery

The past decade has seen mounting global concern regarding viraloutbreaks such as SARS, avian influenza and West Nile virus. In2004 and 2005, reports of bird-to-human, and possiblehuman-to-human, transmissions of the H5N1 influenza viruses raisedfears that these viruses could cause a pandemic on the scale of theSpanish flu pandemic of 1918. Previous to this, a novelcoronavirus had been identified as the aetiological agent of thesevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a new respiratory viraldisease that emerged at the end of 2002 and caused profounddisturbances in over 30 countries worldwide in 2003. It is notknown whether the SARS coronavirus will re-emerge, especially sinceits origins and potential reservoir(s) are unresolved. Howeverthese outbreaks have shown that these viruses can emerge in anypart of the world at any time.This book critically evaluates the latest scientific evidence onnovel or re-emerging viral diseases and brings togethercontributions from world experts on this topic, explaining bestpractice in their area, and discussing lessons learned and how bestto collaborate to prevent and control future outbreaks.Topics covered include:* the latest advances in virology, particularly in the area ofepidemiology* diagnostics* animal models for viral infection* antiviral and vaccine developmentNovel and Re-emerging Respiratory Viral Diseases offers acomprehensive and interdisciplinary account of all aspects of thetopic, from basic molecular biology to public health issues, and istherefore essential reading for virologists, infectious diseasespecialists, public health managers, researchers andepidemiologists, as well as those working in vaccine developmentpharmaceutical medicine and drug discovery

Symposium on Novel and re-emerging respiratory viral diseasesheld at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biolog y, Singapore23-25 April 2007.Editors: Gregory Bock (Organizer) and Jamie Goode.This meeting was based on a proposal made by Yee-Joo Tan andWanjin Hong.Robert G. Webster Chair's introduction.Larry J. Anderson and Suxiang Tong Identificationand characterization of novel viruses.Discussion.Edward C. Holmes The evolution of viral emergence.Discussion.Derek J. Smith, Jan C. de Jong, Alan S. Lapedes, Terry C.Jones, Colin A. Russell, Theo M. Bestebroer, Guus F. RimmelzwaanAlbert D. M. E. Osterhaus and Ron A. M. FouchierAntigenic artography of human and swine influenza A (H3N2)viruses.Discussion.Gabriele Neumann and Yoshihiro Kawaoka Infl uenzapandemics and control.Discussion.J. J. Skehel, S. Wharton, L. Calder and D. StevensOn the activation of membrane fusion by influenzahaemagglutinin.Discussion.Yee Sin Leo Singapore SARS experience and preparation forfuture outbreak.Discussion.Yee-Joo Tan SARS lessons for a young virology laboratoryin Singapore.Discussion.Ih-Jen Su How the SARS experience has helped preparationsfor future outbreaks: the Taiwan experience, with emphasis on thesuccessful control of institutional outbreak of influenza in2003/2004 using a stockpile of antivirals.Discussion.General discussion I.Yuelong Shu, Yu Lan, Leying Wen, Ye Zhang, Jie Dong, XinshengZhao, Dayan Wang, Lihong Yao, Xiyan Li, Wei Wang, Xiuping Wang, QiWang, Shumin Duan, Jingjing Huang, Lei Yang, Hongjie Yu, YuanjiGuo, Weizhong Yang, Xiyan Xu, Nancy J. Cox, Xiaoping Dong, YuWang and Dexin Li Genetic and antigenic characterizationof avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses isolated from humans inMainland China.Discussion.J. S. M. Peiris and Y. Guan Emerging infectiousdiseases and the animal-human interface.Discussion.Erich Hoffmann, Hui-Ling Yen, Rachelle Salomon, NezihaYilmaz and Robert G. Webster Transmission andpathogenicity of H5N1 influenza viruses.Discussion.John M. Wood Development of vaccine for a futureinfluenza pandemic.Discussion.Final discussion.Index of contributors.Subject index.