Quasispecies And RNA Virus Evolution: Principles And Consequences

RNA viruses, by virtue of their high mutation rates and large population sizes, from complex mutant distributions termed viral quasispecies. Studies collected here address connections between theoretical quasispecies and real virus quasispecies, and the biological implications of the quasispecies structure of RNA viruses and other simple replicons. They review evolutionary processes undergone by RNA viruses while replicating to produce disease, and present information on basic evolutionary concepts and how they apply to pathogenic RNA viruses. Some topics include Darwinian evolution of RNA in vitro , and population dynamics and virus adaptability. Domingo is affiliated with the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)