Viruses: Essential Agents of Life

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 Martínez 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; Sébastien 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 Pérot 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.