The viruses which infect insects, both good and bad, are explored in a new comprehensive book, edited by two UQ academics.
Insect Virology, edited by Dr Sassan Asgari and Dr Karyn N. Johnson from UQ's School of Biological Sciences, offers an insight into the viruses plaguing the insect kingdom.
Insects are infected with a range of viruses and newly emerged diseases associated with pathogenic viruses that cause disease in beneficial insects such as colony collapse syndrome in honeybees, have attracted huge interest in this area, according to Dr Johnson.
"Since the last comprehensive book published in this field more than a decade ago, there have been significant advances in the knowledge of the molecular and cellular biology of these viruses, which makes this publication timely," Dr Asgari said.
"Beneficial insects such as honey bees and silkworms can be infected by viruses with serious financial consequences to apiculture, sericulture and aquaculture every year.
"On the other hand, viruses that may infect insect pests such as aphids and moths can be exploited as attractive biological control agents.
"There has been an explosion in the amount of research into insect viruses in recent years, generating impressive quantities of information on the molecular and cellular biology of these viruses."
Dr Asgari said given a majority of insect virologists were from North America, it had been a great honour for the pair to be invited to edit the book.
"Insects vector many viruses that cause disease in humans, animals and plants. There is increasing interest in the interaction of insect-transmitted viruses with their insect vectors," Dr Johnson said.
"As well as those interested in insect viruses, the book will be of interest to those who are doing research on vector-borne diseases caused by viruses.
"The book chapters have been contributed by internationally renowned insect virologists and cover: DNA viruses, RNA viruses and current hot-topics in insect virology."
In each chapter, world-renowned investigators provide current insights into all aspects of insect virology, from virus structure, molecular and cellular interactions to ecology of viruses in the field.
This release eatures many internationally recognised authors and has a great emphasis on agricultural and medical relevance.
This book also has 81 figures, including eight coloured and 30 black-and-white figures and 43 diagrams.
Insect Virology, edited by Sassan Asgari and Karyn N. Johnson is due for release in September, 2010, can be pre-ordered online and is published by Caister Academic Press, United Kingdom.
Media: Dr Sassan Asgari (3365 2043, s.asgari@uq.edu.au) or Tracey Franchi, Manager – Communications, Outreach and Performance Data in the School of Biological Sciences (3365 4831, t.franchi@uq.edu.au).
