Product Description
More than 50 viruses can cause human disease, and textbooks are packed with facts about these viruses and the diseases they cause. Indeed, digesting this wealth of information can be daunting both for students and for professors. In How Pathogenic Viruses Work, the author reveals that the key to understanding this complex subject is to recognize that every virus must solve three basic problems: how to reproduce within the cells of its infected host, how to evade host defenses, and how to spread to a new host. Moreover, once the way a virus solves these problems is known, the pathological consequences of the viral infection can be predicted. To demonstrate the power of this approach, the author analyzes a dozen common human viruses, how they solve these problems, and what the resultant pathological consequences are for their human hosts. How Pathogenic Viruses Work offers unique insights into the mind of the virus. But more importantly, this book provides an antidote to information overload by presenting a paradigm for extracting essential information from voluminous virology texts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent!
I have read this book at least two times so far- always learning something new. He is an incredibly clear writer who is able to make sense out of many confusing topics.I teach Anatomy and Physiology, this book is a constant reference for me both in content and in how to teach about viral infections.

His other 2 books are equally valuable!

clear, approachable, and a huge improvement on standard textbooks
This book does not bury you in terminology.It focuses exclusively on a specific set of pathogenic viruses that affect humans rather than trying to cover the whole spectrum.I learned more easily from, and enjoyed this far more, than I do standard textbooks.Another plus, an educated layman will be able to understand this book, it's informative but it really is written to be clear. I absolutely love this book and highly recommend it for biology students who want some supplementary study in a format that isn't tedious, or for people who are just curious about the subject.

An ecologists path to virology
I found her book an excellent addition to my personal library and now plan on reading her book on the immune system.It may have lacked the genetics and cellular biology of more technical works; this made it a much more enjoyable read, without losing important information.

Absolutely Wonderful!
How Pathogenic Viruses Work

What a wonderful read! Outstanding introduction to exactly how viruses work. A perfect introduction to virology. Wish I read it before I majored in the field. Highly recommended!

Entertaining Informative Introduction to World of Viruses
In an age with threats of bioterrorism and the ever present threat of global pandemics, with the rapid growth in knowledge in the biological sciences, it is difficult if not nearly impossible to fathom what is going on. Several years ago I decided to educate myself in the areas of molecular biology, immunology, and infectious disease. My only formal training in the biological sciences was high school biology from over 40 years ago. I read articles in Scientific American, Discover Magazine, numerous books, both textbooks and popular books, and found myself not seeing the forest for the trees. Then I found Dr. Sompayrac's books, "How the immune system works," and "How pathogenic viruses work." My usual words of praise are "not bad," but in the case of these books, I have to say "excellent." Dr. Sompayrac somehow manages to present the forest without neglecting the trees in a highly entertaining, readable, and informative manner. Both books are short, but rich in content presented in a well-organized manner with appropriately placed brief reviews. After reading his books, I then went back to some of the others and found that everything just fell into place.

I have already recommended both to numerous friends. Not only should these books be read by any lay person interested in modern biology, infectious diseases, and immunology, but public health workers, high school teachers, undergraduate students and teachers should all find these books worth reading and using as references. I actually wrote to Dr. Sompayrac suggesting he follow up with a book on "How pathogenic bacteria work," and I can only hope that he does.
... Read more

Product Description
Understanding Viruses is the ideal text for the modern undergraduate virology course. With a full-color design and rich pedagogy, the text provides a strong introduction to viruses in our daily lives and viral diseases from an epidemiological and global perspective. Its unique approach combines historical perspectives along with the clinical and molecular aspects of viral infections, and chapters discussing specific viral diseases include treatment and prevention information. Contemporary case studies, Refresher Boxes, Virus Files, and quality color figures enhance student learning while a comprehensive ToolKit CD-ROM provides ample course material for instructors. Understanding Viruses is a "must have" for virology instructors and students alike! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good Condition
The book had been used, but it was in good condition. There were no problems with shipping.

Enjoyed
This book is well written.The chapters do seem a little out of order, but our professor just reordered our reading material for us.I enjoyed the book tremendously!Helped with my tests!

thanks
thanks for the book!It's arrived in excellent condition (brand new, like you said) and was shipped very quickly.Thanks!

Nice concept, but not ready for the classroom.
I am an assistant professor and teach virology to juniors and seniors at a large Midwestern state university.I just completed a semester using this book as the text for a class of 70 students.I adopted the text sight-unseen because I was impressed with the organization of the text: it deals with basic molecular biology and cell biology of viruses first, followed by clinical aspects of viral disease and pathogenesis, and concluding with several chapters dedicated to important viral pathogens.This arrangement is, in my opinion, the best way to organize an introductory survey of the field of virology and is the way I teach my course.So I assumed the text would be a good fit for my course.

However, I was sorely disappointed by the quality of this text.It needs significant revision and editing before it can be usable.

Specific problems with this text:

1) it is absolutely riddled with typographical errors, including subject-verb disagreements, non sequitur sentences, and entire sentences out of place in several instances.Most chapters have dozens of such errors. Several figures are missing entirely or are mislabeled in the text.

2) it contains occasional factual errors in the text and figures.For example, in the chapter on viral immunology, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are referred to as a "nonspecific" defense in one of the figures (7-12).CTLs are the paradigm for adaptive, highly-specific immune cells. In the herpesvirus chapter, the author states that herpesviruses infect "virtually all species of vertebrates and invertebrates."This is absolutely incorrect: herpesviruses infect all vertebrates, with a single invertebrate host having been reported (a bivalve). While the number of errors in the text is not overwhelming, they should have been caught in the review process and corrected prior to release.

3) incomplete coverage of immune response to viruses.Space limitations require deciding what to omit and what to include, but I found it remarkable that there was so little discussion of killer T cells in the host resistance chapter (only one page!). Killer T cells are among the most important mediators of antiviral immunity.

4) overemphasis on non-traditional views of viruses, including far too much space devoted to several theories which have little or no scientific basis or are only tangentially related to virology, including:
- possible roles of retroviruses in schizophrenia, including a full page devoted to a dead British artist who painted "disintegrating cats" a may or may not have had schizophrenia, which concluded with the following statement: "It is, of course, impossible to determine whether Wain suffered from schizophrenia, and if he did, if he had an infection caused by endogenous retroviruses." Well, then, why have my students read this?Give us an extra page on killer T cells instead!
- xenotransplantation of pig organs to humans is given 6 pages of text.
- a potential role of adenovirus infection in obesity
- the "house cat", "contaminated poliovirus vaccine", and "conspiracy" theories of HIV origins

5) test questions provided in the test bank focus on often irrelevant details and require little or no critical thinking on the part of the student.I don't use test bank questions as a rule, but these seemed to have been written in a hurry by undergrads themselves.

6)The figures, overall, are attractively rendered but often are not integrated well with the text.

In summary, I think this text is a good concept, and if properly edited and scientifically curated by multiple virologists it would fill an important gap in undergraduate virology texts.In its current form, however, it is very difficult to use and I'm embarrassed that I had my students spend the amount of money on it they did.It seems to have been rushed to market and I would advise not adopting it until the second edition--and then only after careful review.

cover very flimsy
Although the content and material presented is very well done, the publication leaves something to be desired. The softcover is very very flimsy, made of light paper stock, making the book itself seem very fragile.In addition, the font size is very large inside, which takes up much more space and paper than necessary, contributing to the unnecessary weight of the relatively fragile text book.

I hope this isn't how all text books are published nowadays; it would not stand up to the rigors of a student hauling it around to their classes.

None of these comments reflects on the author, nor the content, only the publication itself. ... Read more

Product Description
A searing account of how vaccine opponents have used the media to spread their message of panic, despite no scientific evidence to support them. ... Read more

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Anti-Virus Tools & Techniques for Computer ... Read more

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New viral diseases are emerging continuously. Viruses adapt to new environments at astounding rates. Genetic variability of viruses jeopardizes vaccine efficacy. For many viruses mutants resistant to antiviral agents or host immune responses arise readily, for example, with HIV and influenza.These variations are all of utmost importance for human and animal health as they have prevented us from controlling these epidemic pathogens.

This book focuses on the mechanisms that viruses use to evolve, survive and cause disease in their hosts. Covering human, animal, plant and bacterial viruses, it provides both the basic foundations for the evolutionary dynamics of viruses and specific examples of emerging diseases explained by the evolutionary flexibility of the viral agents that circulate in a continuously changing earth environment.

* NEW to this edition - chapters on the molecular basis of copying fidelity of viral polymerases, methods to establish phylogenetic relationships among viruses, and the mechanisms of cellular RNA interference and editing functions as they affect virus evolution.

* UNIQUE - combines theoretical concepts in evolution with detailed analyses of the evolution of important virus groups.

* Bacterial, plant, animal and human viruses are compared regarding their interaction with their hosts. ... Read more

Product Description
Including the technical description of four basic virus types found on IBM PCs and compatibles, along with programs to detect these viruses and programs to remove them, this book enables readers to learn how to protect a computer system against virus infections, how to detect viruses, and how to remove them once they are discovered.Amazon.com Review
This book provides an overview of computer viruses, with atechnical bias. The second half of the book contains actual virus codeand requires some knowledge of 8086 assembly programming. But don'tget any ideas: in order to make the necessary modifications to compileand unleash this code on innocent bystanders, you would--according toone expert--have to be savvy enough to write a virus fromscratch. Despite the straightforward coverage of famous virusincidents and various attack and defense techniques, the book is notintended for the layman. However, if you have even minimal assemblyprogramming experience, the latter sections of the book will help youunderstand what self-replicating programs really look like and howthey work. The appendices are well organized and the extensiveglossary will help less confident readers. The accompanying softwareprovides more cryptic assembly code, as well as several smallutilities. While the book successfully tackles many tasks, the largescope sometimes makes for a convoluted experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Becoming out-of-date
Over the last decade, computer virus attacks have become more frequent and costly.Virus Detection and Elimination was one of the first - and one of the best - books on the subject.It was my reference guide when I began researching the subject six years ago. Skardhamar provides a good overview of the basic concepts and history of virus technology in the early chapters and then moves into design and programming techniques.Although a layman could understand the first section, the book is targeted at software professionals.

Although still a sound reference, more current and comprehensive texts are available.For example, an IT professional might prefer Viruses Revealed by David Harley

Good one!
This book is full of information, code and explanations. I will recomend it to people with some knowledge on computers because it was writen in a technical lenguage. I found it pretty informative and usefull. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dr. Jordi Casals-Ariet, 5/15/1911 - 2/10/2004
I first read this as a grade-schooler, as the condensed version in Reader's Digest, and later found the full edition at a book fair.It is one of the most fascinating, and frightening, books I have ever read.

Paul Ehrlich's "The Population Bomb" postulated a worldwide pandemic of this disease which killed off 1/4 of the earth's population a la "The Stand", but it would not happen this way; the virus mutates and weakens too readily.

Some other updates on key players in this book:

Rose and Lily "Penny" Pinneo are retired and live together in Sebring, Florida.
Dr. John Hamer and his wife, Elsie, live in Fort Wayne, Indiana and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Dr. Wilbur Downs died a few years ago.
The author, John Fuller, died in 1991.
I was unable to find Dr. Sonja Buckley online.(Edit, 3/2/06:Dr. Buckley died in 2005.)
Jos, Nigeria is in the throes of civil war.Nigeria has not been affected by AIDS as profoundly as other African countries, but it is a significant problem.

The book is a relatively quick and easy read.Although it is out of print, it is not hard to find. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

satisfying conclusion
The art for the whole series is really enjoyable, with distinct and appealing main characters, villains, minor characters, etc. The settings are a bit cut and paste, as is often the case with manga, but the clothes and the "viruses" more than make up for it. I'd like to see an epilogue, but short of that, I'm wish-listing everything by Suzumi. Her other works are less dark, and so I'm wondering whether I'll like them as much. Her style is easily recognizable no matter the subject, however, and the visuals are worth the price of admission. My copy came slightly dented from Amazon, but I accepted it because I really, really wanted to read it right away. ... Read more

Product Description
Focusing on the CDC's top investigators and their most compelling stories, a collection of germ warfare tales chronicles the history of the CDC and follows its physicians' battles with deadly diseases throughout the world.Amazon.com Review
Ever since RichardPreston's startling book The Hot Zone, killerviruses like Ebola, Lassa, Marburg and the hanta viruses have beenhuge at the box office--replacing bigger monsters as the scariest ofhorrors. Regis tells the story of how the Center for Disease Control(CDC) dealt efficiently with the most recent real-life outbreak ofEbola in Kikwit, Zaire in 1995. Although they never found the sourceof the outbreak, CDC scientists stopped it completely within amonth. Initial panic by local medical authorities was stemmed withswift isolation of the infected and the training of staff to deal withthis incurable horror using the latest technology: "rubbergloves, plastic gowns and face masks." Regis suggests that thethreat from viruses has been overblown; his account of the CDC'sheroic efficiency is certainly reassuring. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

CDCInformation
This is a great book if you are interested in information about the CDC, how it was founded, and how it works.In that area it is very specific.However, if you are looking for a disease thriller like The Hot Zone, I wouldn't recommend this book to you.

More Informative Than Suspenseful
Ed Regis is an inconsistant author.At some points of this book I would stay up all night enjoying the suspense, yet at other points of time I would fall asleep with the book in my hand.If you are a historian, if you work at the CDC, or love informative books, then you will love his mix of writing styles.But if you are cruising the library for suspense thrillers, I don't recommend it.

Virus Ground Zero scores a big "Zero"
_Virus Ground Zero: Stalking the Killer Viruses with the Centers for Disease Control_ attempts to use the 1995 Kikwit Ebola epidemic as a case study for an examination of humanity's struggle with deadly viral and bacteriological pathogens. Ultimately, however, _Virus Ground Zero_ turns out to be a lightweight read bogged down by two agendas: act as a cheerleader for the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) specifically and science in general, and serve as a polemic against Laurie Garrett's _The Coming Plague_.

Despite the recent (November 2000) announcement of a possible break through in the development of an Ebola vaccine, Regis' `Rah! Rah!' routine for science and its ability to protect us, specifically against threats like Ebola, does not quite ring true. His attack on the near apocalyptic conclusions suggested by viral doomsayer's like Laurie Garrett, for example, is based more on the deconstruction of their semantics than convincing evidence.

Ed Regis brings impressive credentials to what the _Washington Post Book World_ calls "A readable-even fun-book." A philosophy professor and College Fellow at Western Maryland College, Regis has written and reviewed science books for years. One would think that such a background would have produced a more useful text than _Virus Ground Zero_.

poorly written
It reaaly was poorlywritten and uninterestin

A chronological history of the CDC
A well written book about the Center for Diseases Control( as it is nowcalled) in Atlanta. Carefully documented history about the agency from itsearliest beginnings including accounts of how it has handled many famouscases such as the Ebola outbreak in Reston. Sometimes boring with theinternal goings on at CDC but the case histories a nd the search to findthe Ebola virus in Africa are certainly worth reading. ... Read more

Product Description
Ebola, Lassa fever, HIV/AIDS, anthrax, leprosy, meningitis - Drs Joseph McCormick and Susan Fisher-Hoch have confronted, studied, probed and fought them all, case by case and on an epidemic scale. This is their story of a quarter-of-a-century on the front lines of the struggle to hold the narrow line separating humankind from what might well be the true inheritors of the Earth: viruses. This book combines accounts of cutting-edge medical research with dramatic stories of survival in some of the most remote places on Earth, where the climate, the terrain and the politics can kill just as surely as any disease. ... Read more

Product Description
The co-discoverer of the AIDS virus tells his story of scientific discovery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Greatest Biolologist since Sabin and Salk
This is a must read for anyone interested in science, and is especially inspiring towards anyone interested in pursuing biomedical research. Only a scientist like Robert Gallo could havebeen resilent enough to continue great discoveries (eg. IL2( , inspite of being relentlessly besieged by nay sayers, a zealous journalist, and one politician. Gallo shows that despite all odds ,one may still rise like a phoenix from ashes. Bravo! Ex Libris!

Mars
Virus Hunting provides an interesting understanding into the scientific quest in the study of tumor cell biology. It lays the foundation of the most complex of viral, epidemiological parthenogenesis, that of Human Retro virology, HIV-AIDS. The lab tech procedures used at NCI at the time: mass tissue cell growth cultures, assay developments, etc., continue to hold significant disease applicability, and contributes to future disease models investigations and research and development.

Since, virology is an esoteric discipline; the book was designed to reach wide audiences, presenting a more personal account. For HIV-AIDS research purposes, a plethora of academic references can be found in reknown science journals.


The book describes, in addition, an extraordinary life story, tragedy as the source of creative scientific inspiration, culminating ultimately to discovery. Some readers may miss these subtle nuances.

Great ideas originate from contentious, unorthodoxindividuals who defy and cut across the grain, remembering and giving gratitude to the critics and pretenders; however, vapid for they are as modern muses. When I read the book, I think of that rambunctious ass, Amadeaus and those scowling would be, Scalieries epitomizing those less accomplished.

The rating was lowered solely on the grounds of poor mechanics.

Meh...
Found this book at the library while searching for helpful books for my science project... yeh, i'm a high-school student..
and seriously, this book does have a lot of information...
but, the book kinda really drags, and it's boring, and really,
i didn't need to know about who found this little detail and who examined this thing at what time where and blah. it was full of trivial infos people don't really need.

Virus Hunting by Gallo
This is a good book for scientific study and evaluation of
viral strains-their etiology and treatment approaches. The
research of cancer-causing retroviruses is discussed in humans.
These viral strains may be carried from chickens to people.
The retrovirus in chicken sarcoma and oncogenes when incorporated
into the genetic code of a virus quickly convert normal cells
to cancerous ones. Retroviruses can mutate. The work contains
a good description of the development of the Elisa blood testing
technique. This work would be perfect for a school project in
science or medicine.

Interesting reading but very poor science - no references!
Dr. Robert Gallo has written a very interesting and informative book describing his career and how the HIV virus was discovered. In the final chapter he refutes the criticisms of Dr. Duesberg, who later wrote "Inventing the AIDS Virus". Dr. Gallo's arguments sound very convincing; however he does not provide a single reference. He makes many statements such as "this has been found", "studies have shown", etc. but never provides references. This makes it impossible to verify his claims or read the original source data. It is suspicious that Dr. Gallo does not disclose his scientific sources. Dr. Duesberg on the other hand, in his book refuting Gallo's arguments, provides 856 footnotes referring to publications in the most highly respected scientific and medical journals. In conclusion, it is a very difficult scientific problem to understand HIV, AIDS, and if there is a relationship or not. By not providing footnotes Dr. Gallo has made it more difficult for the serious inquirer. ... Read more

Product Description
Completely revised and updated, the new edition of this groundbreaking text integrates basic virology with pathophysiological conditions to examine the connection between virology and human disease. Most virology textbooks focus on the molecular biology involved without adequate reference to physiology. This text focuses on viruses that infect humans, domestic animals and vertebrates and is based on extensive course notes from James Strauss' virology class at the California Institute of Technology taught for over 30 years. Expertly depicting in color the molecular structure and replication of each virus, it provides an excellent overview for students and professionals interested in viruses as agents of human disease.

* Includes over 30% new material - virtually all of the figures and tables have been redrawn to include the latest information and the text has been extensively rewritten to include the most up-to-date information
* Includes a new chapter on emerging and reemerging viral diseases such as avian flu, SARS, the spread of West Nile virus across America, and the continuing spread of Nipah virus in Southeast Asia.
* Further reading sections at the end of each chapter make it easy find key references
* World maps depicting the current distribution of existing and newly emerging viruses are also incorporated into the text
* A companion website features illustrations for use in class notes and presentations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Viruses and human disease
What a wonderful textbook,focuses more on the virus than disease. Very easy to comprehend, and has wonderful charts and pictures to support text.

Viruses and Human Disease
The wealth of information in this book on viruses and its interaction on their host is provided in an easy to understand manner.I belive that this knowledge will help me in my quest to find a cure for disease I am currently researching....My kudos to Mrs and Mr Strauss for their efforts to educate us and expand our knowledge of this non-discriminating phenomena of our existential mystery... ... Read more

Product Description
An epidemic strikes the United States, plunging the country into chaos. New York Times medical reporter Denise Grady uses this terrifying scenario, taken from the pages of a U.S. government report on the potential outcome of a pandemic, as the starting point for a journey into the gripping world of emerging diseases.

In search of a better understanding of these often deadly diseases, Grady heads to Angola, the site of the 2005 Marburg virus epidemic, a disease closely related to Ebola. On the ground, and sometimes frighteningly close to victims of the disease, Denise explores the realities of health care in the developing world, and its potential effects on our own welfare.

With supplemental sidebars that explain key scientific and social issues and in-depth chapters on the origins and spread of Marburg, avian flu, HIV, SARS, West Nile virus, hantavirus, and monkeypox, this is a fascinating look at the health dangers we face in a global society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Germs and the Altruistic
Deadly Diseases is a well written, easy to understand book suitable for young adults, older adults who like simplification of complex topics, and even advanced middle school students. The author makes the unspeakable palpable, and intricate complexities understandable. Her text is enhanced by remarkable photographs that memorably capture the human element and human suffering of which she writes.

I also like the supplemental text boxes with information that adds to the impact of Grady's story. Short asides about bats, mosquitoes, spreading SARS, and making a vaccine, are fascinating and warrant revisits.

Infectious diseases cause 13 million deaths a year, and viruses continue to reemerge and resurface without warning. Deadly Invaders is a moving book that enhances awareness and vigilance and shakes up one's complacency.

Creepy crawly icky yucky germs
I was at the American Library Conference in New Orleans scoping out various publisher booths when I found myself at the Kingfisher location in possession of a nice hot pink non-fiction tome with the vibrant words, "Deadly Invaders" popping out of the cover.I knew that the New York Times had started publishing books for children, much as National Geographic has, but this was the first of its kind I'd had a chance to handle for myself.So for three or four nights in a row, I used this title to cautiously immerse myself in every dangerous virus outbreak from AIDS to SARS.The book is a fascinating look at how our ever-shrinking world may someday face a pandemic of the worst possible nature.For the kid that wants some info on deadly diseases that kill with no cure, I can't think of a better book to hand them.Just don't be tossing this title casually to any child prone to apocalyptic fears.

Author Denise Grady is a science reporter for The New York Times and has been so since 1998.In the eight years since she joined the Gray Lady, Ms. Grady has had the mixed honor of being in a position to learn as much as possible about some of the deadliest diseases in the world.Grady begins "Deadly Invaders" with in-depth study of Marburg Fever.To study the effects of this viral hemorrhagic disease, Grady traveled to Luanda, Angola to view the doctors working in the area.She then traveled to the much smaller and, to be frank, filthier city of Uige and the province of the same name.Grady recounts both these experiences with the professionalism of a true reporter, then fills out the book with summaries of six other deadly diseases.The effect is simultaneously devastating and gripping (in a way that differs not too greatly from watching an informative but nasty car wreck on the highway).

To be honest with you, I had never even heard of the Marburg Fever until I read Grady's account of it.Now that I have, I am under the distinct impression that it is going to kill me.No no, I'm kidding you.In fact, if anything, Grady's story comes across as a rather hopeful piece on the competence of contemporary doctors.Sure there have been outbreaks and deaths all over the world from various viral amalgamations, but not one has ever turned into a full-blown pandemic.This is, to my mind, nothing short of amazing.Take, for example, the book's account of SARS.Providing a particularly useful little map o' infection, the reader is able to see how a single traveler from China managed to infect four hundred people when he stayed at a single hotel.Yet for all this, we are not currently walking around with masks on our faces.Well done us.

And well done, Ms. Grady.Her writing in this title for youth never patronizes her younger readers.She has the singular ability to make complex ideas and issues simple without being simplistic.In the book's introduction, for example, she is able to synthesize the "Why should I care about viral outbreaks?" question into a succinct chunk: "Whether or not you believe that a humanitarian responsibility exists, there is also a practical, perhaps selfish reason for the rest of the world to try to stop or prevent epidemics in seemingly remote places: nowhere is truly remote anymore."Most admirable, however, is Grady's ability to humanize a story of a dehumanizing disease.When she visits a clinic in Angola to follow the trials of a man in an isolation unit, she learns that his family provides food for him and brings it to the doctors.Unfortunately, all food must be placed in plastic bags, an act that would be considered humiliating in Angola.At one point we hear of a family who has placed the bagged food in a box contained within a beautifully embroidered piece of cloth.And then the man dies alone and without getting to see any of his relatives anyway.The reader hurts to hear this, but is able to stand outside the situation as well.I also enjoyed Ms. Grady's willingness to talk about how she had to convince The New York Times that this was a story worth reporting in the first place.And considering that that's their name on the cover, this comes across as mildly gutsy.

For kids, the book even has small tidbits of info that provide fascinating back-up to the larger story.At one point we learn that there is a theory that viruses are "scraps of rogue genetic material that somehow escaped people, animals, plants, or bacteria."Or how about the fact that many of this awful viral diseases come from eating monkeys?In May of 2002 more than seven hundred primate carcasses were tested for disease and they, "found SIV infection in 20 percent of them.More than thirty primate species were known to carry strains of SIV."Oog.And ick.

We would be amiss if we did not offer kudos to Anthony Cutting's book design as well.What could easily have ended up as a dull dry text punctuated by the occasional photograph becomes instead a lively book with the visual equivalent of sound bites popping up all the time.Maps, full-page info boxes, and mock index cards pepper the pages in such a way that the eye is forever flitting from interesting factoid to the main text.The color photographs, Source Notes, Bibliography of articles organized by date (with additional notes on books of particular interest), Internet Resources (thank heaven), and Index are enough to assure any non-fiction junkie that Ms. Grady knows from whence she writes.

Ms. Grady writes this book for a teen readership, but I feel "Deadly Invaders" will garner just as much interest from science-hungry tweens as well.It's a riveting account of those diseases we hear about all the time in the news, but in a way that makes them feel immediate and pressing.The hypochondriac kids you know may not be able to handle what Ms. Grady has to say, but for anyone else this book is a window into a world that our future scientists may someday wish to conquer.Now if you'll excuse me, I think I shall go and wash my hands.

An important first-person journey with many implications for modern health.
Denise Grady is a medical reporter who decided to survey the threats of flu and new illnesses caused by viruses, journeying to Angola to study the spread of Marburg. Hers is not only a survey of a single disease, but charts the course of health issues, scientific investigation, and accompany social and ethical issues. Students in grades 5-8 will find Deadly Invaders: Virus Outbreaks Around the World, from Marburg Fever to Avian Flu to be an important first-person journey with many implications for modern health.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
When I received my copy of DEADLY INVADERS, I had every intention of focusing on two of the diseases I was most familiar with--Avian (Bird) Flu and West Nile Disease.I had never actually heard of Marburg Fever, but quickly realized that a large portion of the book was devoted to this disease, and became intrigued.

The Marburg Story is broken down into six sections:Luanda, Angola; The Hot Zone; Arrival in Uige; Claudia's Funeral; The Outbreak Ends, and Animal Origins.So what is Marburg Fever?The Marburg virus is found in Africa, Asia, and South America, and is called a viral hemorrhagic fever.Outbreaks tend to erupt without warning, and although they cause rapidly fatal diseases, the illnesses start out with ordinary flu symptoms--headache, fever, aches and pains, an occasional rash, diarrhea and vomiting.What causes Marburg Fever to become deadly, though, is the fact that about half of the victims who suffer from the flu-like symptoms then begin to bleed, both internally and externally.What often follows is a breakdown of vital organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver from the fluid that is leaking out of the blood vessels.

Sounds horrifically painful, doesn't it?It is, and although right now it's only been found in the aforementioned countries and has come to an end, it could arise again, and even be spread to other parts of the globe.One of the most important things I learned by reading DEADLY INVADERS is how easily a virus, whether one that is air-born or one that can only be contracted through direct contact of bodily fluids, can be spread.With the ease of travel from one country to another, and with short incubation periods for viruses with little or no obvious symptoms in the beginning, it is not unlikely that an epidemic of some sort will one day spread across the Earth.

Besides Marburg Fever, there are six other diseases profiled in DEADLY INVADERS:Avian (Bird) Flu, HIV and AIDS, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, West Nile Disease, SARS, and Monkeypox.Each virus has specific symptoms, and none have cures.It is up to medical professionals across the world to work together to find vaccines for these diseases, so that
we're prepared in the face of eventual outbreaks.

This is definitely an informative book.If you've ever wondered about the likelihood of outbreaks of Bird Flu or West Nile Disease in the United States, or if diseases that thrive in third-world countries will ever be a threat to those in the developed world, you need to read DEADLY INVADERS.The threat is there, and it's up to all of us to get ready.

Reviewed by:Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
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Customer Reviews (1)

continuing the great storyline and art
Suzumi's story is very detailed and involved, and takes some interesting turns in vols. 3-4. It might take a re-read, but that's part of the pleasure of a good manga. This is supernatural seinen fare at its best, and the loose ends come together in later volumes, so if you're wondering, don't worry - things will get cleared up later!

Suzumi's art is just plain fun to look at, though buildings and cityscapes are a bit dull. The characters - clothes, faces, and poses - are really well executed. ... Read more

Product Description
THE ONLY HOPE AGAINST THE ULTIMATE DECEPTION
 
In the clear blue skies above Long Island, two airplanes collide. Tony Stark watches the scene in horror and wishes he had the technology that is almost within his reach—a new hyperintelligent instant control system that could have given the aircraft advance warning. But Stark, an obsessive, increasingly troubled recluse, doesn’t know that his invention has been compromised.

In fact, the collision was a carefully crafted hit on Madame Hydra, the final stage in Arnim Zola’s plan to seize control of HYDRA and get rid of Iron Man once and for all. The cunning adversary has already infiltrated Stark Industries security to develop a version of the instant control mechanism that will take over the armored suit and turn it against Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. While Tony races to track down the source of the intrusion, Zola unleashes direly ingenious computer viruses and the ultimate secret weapon: a murderous clone army based on Stark’s most trusted friend. A puppet master of self-replicating terror, Zola is plunging a city into a war that threatens to consume all in its wake. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excitement is Irvine's Game
I have read most of Irvine's work and with the exception of Batman: Inferno I have enjoyed each and every novel. Iron Man 2 is too erratic to enjoy 100% especially considering John Favreau butchered the screenplay but Irvine's book is nonetheless worthy of praise. Iron Man: Virus is from beginning to end funny, exciting, endearing and entertaining. Normally I dislike these Batman, Star Wars, Star Trek, Spiderman novels when they focus too much on new characters/villains and not enough on Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne for example. Irvine nicely blends the characters together into one entertaining and rich novel. For casual Iron Man readers I strongly recommend this book as a nice getway for a few hours of entertainment and pleasure reading. For comic book die-hards I can certainly understand your disappointment but in my opinion there is no denying how fun this book is.

Not as good as Irvine's Batman novel
Alex Irvine delivers the next Iron Man novel, which like _Femme Fatales_ deals with Hydra's conflict with SHIELD and Iron Man stuck under a rock due to his duties to that agency while Tony Stark is constrained by his many government contracts.

It took me a while to realize what it was about the characters in this novel that bothered me. Irvine never describes them. Sure, to comic readers the characters are well-known and the mere mention of Arnim Zola conjures the image of a muscular, headless man whose chest contains a large screen with Zola's face. While you get some minor descriptions, there are no colors. Madame Hydra appears early on, but nothing is mentioned of her green hair, so unless the reader also read _Femme Fatales_ or the comics, they would never know this. The same goes for all the well-known comic characters: Tony Stark, Nick Fury, Rhodey, and Pepper Potts. While these characters have appeared in the movies, this novel series is not set in the same version of the Marvel Universe. In this novel, we don't know which version of Nick Fury we have, the original version or the Ultimate Universe version. We don't know how to picture Rhodey, since two actors played him in the movies and nothing about his physical appearance is mentioned. Same for Stark, his date, Happy Hogan (which is really important given that Zola clones Hogan at one point), and others. That's a major failing in a medium relying so completely on visualization based on the printed words.

Also, each chapter opens with either an exhortation of Zola to his Hydra drones or a "provisional patent application" readout. While the former are OK as representing the telepathic messages Zola relays to his minions, the latter fall flat. As someone who has actually filed scientific patents, these read terribly falsely. While the Marvel Universe might differ enough to render this argument moot, these read much more like executive summaries or press releases than actual patent documents. Consider: unit types are mixed, sometimes in the same paragraph, between SI/metric and US Customary/English units (pascals and psi in one paragraph, when both are units of pressure for the different systems -- very sloppy in this engineer/scientist's view), the "claims" are not enumerated as they should be and instead appear as a narrative paragraph. Sure, the lack of legalspeak is nice, but it's inaccurate in the extreme. Also, one mentions that the work is incomplete and that further research is proceeding to prove one of the claims! Claims have to be something demonstrated, not just a prediction, to hold up.

The story, however, is very reminiscent of what one might find in a comic. While not lasting in any sense, Irvine does tie in some of the consequences from the prior novel while also alluding to events which occurred in the intervening months between the two books. The plot is terribly comic-booky, with the cardboard villain making poor decisions, allowing insubordination and poor performance to perpetuate in his many followers, the hero alienating his companions but still getting the job done, and the faceless (based on the lack of descriptions) government people trying to fight the enemy and Stark's inertia. It's an OK read, but not really worth the cover price.

This is a virus you don't want to catch
It's nice to see a super-hero book take a more cerebral path, and it's interesting to see Arnim Zola in action (he seems to be one of Marvel's least used major villains), but //Iron Man: Virus// is hard to read. There's just too much filler; the armor patent sheets and Zola's rants at the beginning of each chapter are just too much for a casual reader to deal with. Also, Zola is far too predictable a villain; for someone that's supposedly a master chess player, he plays the game here like a bad Republic villain and has to depend on his clones and intellect for superiority.He plays games when he should be attacking and making bad moves more for plot than because he should be and he actually has two clones do a murder-suicide in a public place to tie up loose ends rather than just disappearing into the woodwork. Worse, Tony just doesn't connect to anyone. Whereas that may be true in the movie, in the comic books his problems have usually been because of his emotional attachments, so it feels strange to see him acting so detached from his friends.//Iron Man: Virus// is an interesting book, but save it for a long bus ride.

Reviewed by Jamais Jochim ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good reading
I have to admit that it is outdated, and the material may not be that relevant.However, it does make for an interesting reading.The writing is so well done, that I believe an elementary student may be able to understand the concepts.The author does not use too many complex or scientific/computer terminoly.

It is avaliable free on the Internet
This book is a classic exposition on the programming of computer viruses.Although a bit outdated, it is free to download from the publisher's website http://www.ameaglepubs.com/free_virus.html (it requires you to register but that is free too) along with the first edition of the Giant Black Book of Computer Viruses and lots of other information (i.e. DON'T BUY THE OVERPRICED USED COPIES ON AMAZON.COM). ... Read more

Product Description

With the growing global fear of a major pandemic, avian influenza (AI) virus research has greatly increased in importance. In Avian Influenza Virus, an expert team of researchers and diagnosticians examine the fundamental, yet essential, virological methods for AI virus research and diagnostics as well as some of the newest molecular procedures currently used for basic and applied research. They present exciting, cutting-edge new methods that focus both on studying the virus itself and on work with avian hosts, an area greatly lacking in research.

Product Description
Rather than to present each taxonomic group of viruses in its entirety, the core of this book is organized around features of the reproductive cycle shared by all viruses.This concise, student-friendly text is intended for biology and microbiology majors and even beginning graduate students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good book, divided by chapters
This book is highly divided by chapters. I fell in trouble because my professor doesnt follow chapters, he just talks about different viruses. Read this book if your professor suggests + take some online & other book's help also.

Excellent review of the stages of the virus lifecycle
This book covers in good detail the stages of the viral lifecycle--attachment, penetration, uncoating, expression of nonstructural genes, expression of structural genes, assembly, maturation, andrelease--as well as viral-host interactions and viral evolution.The clearlanguage and the questions posed in each chapter are effective in focusingthe reader's attention and studying for a test.In short, a great book forgeneral knowledge, review, or as a reference. ... Read more

Product Description
In this lively new book, Kathleen C. Engel and Patricia A. McCoy tell the full story behind the subprime crisis. The authors, experts in the law and economics of financial regulation and consumer lending, offer a sharply reasoned, but accessible account of the actions that produced the greatest economic collapse since the Great Depression. The Subprime Virus reveals how consumer abuses in a once obscure corner of the home mortgage market led to the near meltdown of the world's financial system. Wall Street peddled subprime loans to investors through complex but dodgy financial instruments that spread like a virus. A central theme in the book is the role of federal banking and securities regulators, who were well aware of lenders' risky, deceptive mortgages and of Wall Street's addiction to high stakes financing. These regulators, believing that markets would self-correct, did nothing until the crisis erupted. While the spread of the subprime virus resulted from economic and political failures, its lessons inform the building of a new, more stable, prosperous and just financial order. ... Read more