Novartis Foundation Symposium 290 - 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 Novartis Foundation is an international scientific and educational charity which promotes the study and general knowledge of science and in particular encourages international co-operation in scientific research.

Chairman: Robert G Webster, St. Jude Children's?Research Hospital, Memphis, USA.

"This is a valuable account of how new viral pathogens are discovered and analyzed. It also describes how a highly infectious outbreak can be contained. This information will be invaluable in future outbreaks. This book is highly recommended for individuals involved in diagnosing and containing infectious viral diseases." (Doody's, January 2009)

Symposium on Novel and re-emerging respiratory viral diseases, held at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biolog y, Singapore, 23–25 April 2007.


Editors: Gregory Bock (Organizer) and Jamie Goode.


This meeting was based on a proposal made by Yee-Joo Tan and Wanjin Hong.


Robert G. Webster Chair’s introduction.


Larry J. Anderson and Suxiang Tong Identification and 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. Rimmelzwaan, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus and Ron A. M. Fouchier Antigenic artography of human and swine influenza A (H3N2) viruses.


Discussion.


Gabriele Neumann and Yoshihiro Kawaoka Infl uenza pandemics and control.


Discussion.


J. J. Skehel, S. Wharton, L. Calder and D. Stevens On the activation of membrane fusion by influenza haemagglutinin.


Discussion.


Yee Sin Leo Singapore SARS experience and preparation for future outbreak.


Discussion.


Yee-Joo Tan SARS lessons for a young virology laboratory in Singapore.


Discussion.


Ih-Jen Su How the SARS experience has helped preparations for future outbreaks: the Taiwan experience, with emphasis on the successful control of institutional outbreak of influenza in 2003/2004 using a stockpile of antivirals.


Discussion.


General discussion I.


Yuelong Shu, Yu Lan, Leying Wen, Ye Zhang, Jie Dong, Xinsheng Zhao, Dayan Wang, Lihong Yao, Xiyan Li, Wei Wang, Xiuping Wang, Qi Wang, Shumin Duan, Jingjing Huang, Lei Yang, Hongjie Yu, Yuanji Guo, Weizhong Yang, Xiyan Xu, Nancy J. Cox, Xiaoping Dong, Yu Wang and Dexin Li Genetic and antigenic characterization of avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses isolated from humans in Mainland China.


Discussion.


J. S. M. Peiris and Y. Guan Emerging infectious diseases and the animal–human interface.


Discussion.


Erich Hoffmann, Hui-Ling Yen, Rachelle Salomon, Neziha Yilmaz and Robert G. Webster Transmission and pathogenicity of H5N1 influenza viruses.


Discussion.


John M. Wood Development of vaccine for a future influenza pandemic.


Discussion.


Final discussion.


Index of contributors.


Subject index.