HIV: Virology and Immunology

AIDS is undeniably one of the most pressing medical emergencies of our era. It is now 12 years since the discovery of HIV and in spite of a world-wide research effort no proven method for controlling AIDS has been developed. HIV Volumes 1 and 2 are guides to studying HIV in the laboratory focusing on specialized techniques unique to this field. Both books provide the novice entering HIV research with clear instructions on how to perform standard experiments as well as including many novel methods described in detail for the first time.

Volume 1 describes studies of the virus and infected cells and covers techniques for handling HIV safely, for studying viral entry, replication and neutralization and basic immunological techniques.

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

AIDS is undeniably one of the most pressing medical emergencies of our era. It is now 12 years since the discovery of HIV and in spite of a world-wide research effort no proven method for controlling AIDS has been developed. HIV Volumes 1 and 2 are guides to studying HIV in the laboratory focusing on specialized techniques unique to this field. Both books provide the novice entering HIV research with clear instructions on how to perform standard experiments as well as including many novel methods described in detail for the first time.

Volume 1 describes studies of the virus and infected cells and covers techniques for handling HIV safely, for studying viral entry, replication and neutralization and basic immunological techniques.

Earle W. Holmes

This book, the first of a two-volume set, presents virological and immunological approaches for the investigation of HIV and HIV-infected cells. The book is divided into three parts that cover the growth and isolation of the virus, analysis of HIV infection, and the immunology of HIV. The book is intended to teach the reader how to study HIV in the laboratory. This purpose is effectively achieved through the presentation of detailed experiential protocols as the central foci of each chapter. This book is oriented toward experienced or prospective HIV researchers and graduate students in virology and molecular biology. It is an advanced text that will be best appreciated by readers with a prior background in biomedical research. Each chapter presents an introduction to the topic, detailed protocols for carrying out relevant experimental techniques, and a succinct discussion of data analysis and interpretation. The contributors, all of whom are experienced HIV researchers, present many helpful hints and much valuable practical information about the techniques that they present. This book will provide an excellent foundation for life sciences researchers who are new to the field of HIV research. For those already familiar with the techniques of molecular virology and immunology, the book describes research protocols specifically adapted to the investigation of HIV. The book will be a valuable reference for biomedical libraries and will also be a useful addition to the personal libraries for HIV researchers, virologists, and molecular biologists who have a special interest in HIV.

Karn, Jonathan (Medical Research Council, Cambridge)

The contributors represent the specialties of microbiology, immunology, virology, bacteriology, communicable diseases, oncology, pathology, and pediatrics. Most are from universities and research centers in the U.K., with some from the Netherlands and the U.S. Institutions prominently represented include Univ of Edinburgh, Univ Coll London Medical School, Univ of Oxford, the Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, the Institute for Cancer Research, and UCLA.