Jaap Goudsmit
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195130348
- eISBN:
- 9780199790166
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195130348.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Microbiology
Rarely have humans been as threatened by viruses as they are today. It almost seems as if a virus invasion is taking place. Viruses have lately been coming out of nowhere and appearing in the ...
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Rarely have humans been as threatened by viruses as they are today. It almost seems as if a virus invasion is taking place. Viruses have lately been coming out of nowhere and appearing in the strangest places — exotic viruses about which no one had ever heard before. Many human viruses have started out in the animal world. Are these viruses maybe escaping from their natural hosts? Are human beings simply available as easy prey? Why is all this happening now, and what does it mean for our future? What can we do to defend ourselves? This book addresses viral adaptation as a general phenomenon and examines the implications for public health of human behavior altering viral ecosystems. This book discusses the phenomenon of viral emergence.Less
Rarely have humans been as threatened by viruses as they are today. It almost seems as if a virus invasion is taking place. Viruses have lately been coming out of nowhere and appearing in the strangest places — exotic viruses about which no one had ever heard before. Many human viruses have started out in the animal world. Are these viruses maybe escaping from their natural hosts? Are human beings simply available as easy prey? Why is all this happening now, and what does it mean for our future? What can we do to defend ourselves? This book addresses viral adaptation as a general phenomenon and examines the implications for public health of human behavior altering viral ecosystems. This book discusses the phenomenon of viral emergence.
Michael B. A. Oldstone
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- September 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780190056780
- eISBN:
- 9780197523292
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190056780.003.0003
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Epidemiology
This chapter discusses how the human immune system combats viruses, either by spontaneously eliminating infections or by becoming stimulated via vaccination to prevent viral diseases. The proteins in ...
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This chapter discusses how the human immune system combats viruses, either by spontaneously eliminating infections or by becoming stimulated via vaccination to prevent viral diseases. The proteins in viruses and bacteria that trigger an immune response are called antigens or immunogens, and the result of a satisfactory immune response to these antigens is immunity—long-term protection from repeated disease caused by a specific type of virus or bacteria. Similarly, a vaccine primes the immune response by programming it to anticipate and resist future pathogens like those in that particular vaccine. The immune system has evolved to deal with enormous numbers and varieties of every conceivable foreign antigen. However, the immune system must discriminate between foreign antigens, such as viral proteins, that are non-self and those antigens that are self, one’s own proteins (i.e., hormones such as insulin and cell proteins that make up muscle or nerve cells). Ultimately, the success of this system defines an organism’s capacity for survival.Less
This chapter discusses how the human immune system combats viruses, either by spontaneously eliminating infections or by becoming stimulated via vaccination to prevent viral diseases. The proteins in viruses and bacteria that trigger an immune response are called antigens or immunogens, and the result of a satisfactory immune response to these antigens is immunity—long-term protection from repeated disease caused by a specific type of virus or bacteria. Similarly, a vaccine primes the immune response by programming it to anticipate and resist future pathogens like those in that particular vaccine. The immune system has evolved to deal with enormous numbers and varieties of every conceivable foreign antigen. However, the immune system must discriminate between foreign antigens, such as viral proteins, that are non-self and those antigens that are self, one’s own proteins (i.e., hormones such as insulin and cell proteins that make up muscle or nerve cells). Ultimately, the success of this system defines an organism’s capacity for survival.
Mark R. Stromberg, Carla M. D’antonio, Truman P. Young, Jeanne Wirka, and Paul R. Kephart
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520252202
- eISBN:
- 9780520933972
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520252202.003.0021
- Subject:
- Biology, Plant Sciences and Forestry
Restoration is the complex set of efforts to reverse or mitigate effects of human activity on the landscape. Restoration of California grasslands is now under way at many sites. This chapter ...
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Restoration is the complex set of efforts to reverse or mitigate effects of human activity on the landscape. Restoration of California grasslands is now under way at many sites. This chapter discusses grassland restoration efforts, paying special attention to desired species attention and effects of past human activities. It first discusses the constraints on restoration efforts, such as invasive non-native species, land use, viral diseases, road construction, fire, and grazing. The chapter then examines the goals, implementation, and management plan for restoration of California grasslands.Less
Restoration is the complex set of efforts to reverse or mitigate effects of human activity on the landscape. Restoration of California grasslands is now under way at many sites. This chapter discusses grassland restoration efforts, paying special attention to desired species attention and effects of past human activities. It first discusses the constraints on restoration efforts, such as invasive non-native species, land use, viral diseases, road construction, fire, and grazing. The chapter then examines the goals, implementation, and management plan for restoration of California grasslands.
