In the summer of 1984, both of us were working with Professor Yechiel
Becker in the Laboratory for Molecular Virology at the Hebrew
University-Hadassah Medical center in Jerusalem. During a discussion
about the increasing number of specialized journals and monographs, Dr.
Becker pointed out that none covered both the clinical and molecular
aspects of neurotropic virus infections, and he urged us to develop such
a book with the help of colleagues who were conducting highly-regarded
research in their individual areas related to neurotropic viruses. The
responses to our request were gratifying, and each contribution provided
both a comprehensive clinical description of the neurologic disease
produced by a specific virus and an up-to-date review of the current
research in the pathogenesis of the disease, with particular attention
given to molecular mechanisms. Most, but not all chapters were written
by clinical neurologists who applied basic science strategies and
methodologies to the question of how neurotropic viruses produce
disease. other chapters were written by virologists known for their
longstanding commitment and expertise in the analysis of the
pathogenesis of neurotropic virus infections. Thus, this unique
monograph should be valuable to all clinicians caring for patients with
CNS viral diseases and to "neurovirologists" needing an update of the
clinical and molecular pathogenesis of neurotropic virus infections.
While this monograph was being prepared, a rapidly expanding literature
indicated that the human lenteviruses, human immunodeficiency viruses
(HIV) and HTLV-1 were highly neurotropic.
