Main description:

A renaissance of virus research is taking centre stage in biology. Empirical data from the last decade indicate the important roles of viruses, both in the evolution of all life and as symbionts of host organisms. There is increasing evidence that all cellular life is colonized by exogenous and/or endogenous viruses in a non-lytic but persistent lifestyle. Viruses and viral parts form the most numerous genetic matter on this planet.

Contents:

Preface; Guenther Witzany.-

1. Revolutionary struggle for existence: introduction to four intriguing puzzles in virus research; Matti Jalasvuori.-

2. Quasispecies dynamics of RNA viruses; Miguel Angel Martinez et al.-

3. The origin of virions and virocells: the escape hypothesis revisited; Patrick Forterre, Mart Krupovic.-

4. Scratching the Surface of Biology's Dark Matter; Merry Youle et al.-

5. Virus universe: can it be constructed from a limited number of viral architectures; Hanna M. Oksanen et al.-

6. The addiction module as a social force; Luis Villarreal.-

7. Viral integration and consequences on host gene expression; Sebastien Desfarges, Angela Ciuffi.-

8. Persistent plant viruses: molecular hitchhikers or epigenetic elements?; Marilyn Roossinck.-

9. The concept of virus in the post-Megavirus era; Jean Michel Claverie, Chantal Abergel.-

10. Unpacking the baggage : Origin and Evolution of Giant Viruses; Jonathan Filee, Michael Chandler.-

11. Megavirales composing a fourth domain of life: Mimiviridae and Marseilleviridae; Philippe Colson, Didier Raoult.-

12. On viruses, bats and men: a natural history of food-borne viral infections; Harald Brussow.-

13. LTR retroelement-derived protein-coding genes and vertebrate evolution; Domitille Chalopin et al.-

14. Koala retrovirus endogenisation in action; Rachael Tarlington.-

15. The evolutionary interplay between exogenous and endogenous sheep betaretroviruses; Alessia Armezzani et al.-

16. Endogenous retroviruses and the epigenome ; Andrew B. Conley, I.King Jordan.-

17. From viruses to genes: syncytins; Philippe Perot et al.-

18. Hepatitis G Virus or GBV-C: A Natural Anti-HIV Interfering Virus; Omar Bagasra et al.-

19. Salutary Contributions of Viruses to Medicine and Public Health; Steve Abedon.-

20. From Molecular Entities to Competent Agents: Viral Infection-Derived Consortia Act as Natural Genetic Engineers; Guenther Witzany.