By

Leslie Collier, Emiritus Professor of Virology, University of London.
John Oxford, Professor Virology, St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospital School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Book Description

Viruses are the smallest of organisms, yet given that they account for at least a third of presentations in the doctors clinic, they must be well understood by medical students and practitioners alike. Collier & Oxford’s Human Virology presents this complex and rapidly evolving subject with notable clarity and topicality. The first part of the text deals with the general principles of virology, including the properties of viruses, replication and genetics, along with disease and resistance. This is followed by chapters dedicated to specific groups of viruses, then special syndromes associated with susceptible groups. The final part of the book is reserved for practical aspects of virology, including diagnosis, control measures and anti-viral therapies. The authors intent is not to turn their readers into virologists, but rather to provide them with enough knowledge of the nature of viruses and viral infections to serve as an essential foundation for clinical involvement with the subject. By providing a concise but comprehensive account of the fascinating subject of virology, this text is ideal for students of medecine, dentistry, microbiology, nursing and the biological sciences. This latest edition has been extensively updated and incorporates many new diagrams, accompanied by the introduction of full colour presentation. The importance of viruses has demanded a fresh appreciation in recent years, providing opportunity for this edition to include coverage of: – The emergence of SARS – Latest research in the study of prion diseases – An exploration of the debate regarding MMR versus single vaccination – Progress in the study and treatment of HIV/AIDS – Recent advances in diagnostic virology and antiviral therapy – Greater emphasis on the antiviral precautions required of healthcare professionals

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Overall, this is a good solid textbook for use in teaching medical virology. The quality of the figures is excellent and the cost is reasonable for a student. It is always helpful to have an up-to-date virology textbook, since the emergence of new human viruses is occurring constantly. In addition, the techniques used to detect viruses in humans are also rapidly evolving.”–Doody’s

About the Author

Leslie Collier was from 1978 to 1986 Professor of Virology at the London Hospital Medical College, being succeeded in this post by John Oxford. John Oxford is Professor of Virology at St. Bartholomew’s and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of London. He is the co-author of two standard texts on Influenza and Virology and has published 250 scientific papers throughout the world. Professor Oxford serves as the Scientific Director of Retroscreen, Ltd., the College’s research virology company.

Customer Reviews

Best book available for intro virology, May 27, 2006

As a virology student, this is the first place I go to when reviewing any viral disease. It gets to the point and gives you all the necessary information you need on viruses. For all the common viruses, this book has no equal. Other books do go into more detail, but nothing comes close to Collier to giving you the basic knowledge you need.

For very select audience only, February 15, 2009

I was required to read this for a Public Health course. The textbook skips over vital explanations, uses too many abbreviations (without explaining what they are), and bolds important words without defining them. I was constantly on the computer attempting to find a better explanation elsewhere. However, I guess I should fault the professor of my course more than the textbook authors. Perhaps this book should have a memo explaining it is only for those with an advanced understanding of microbiology and medicine.