Rapid developments continue to take place in the research of viruses,
the causative agents of infectious diseases in humans, animals, plants,
invertebrates, protozoa, fungi, and bacteria. A still growing number of
more than 30,000 viruses, virus strains, and subtypes are being tracked
in various specialty laboratories and culture collections. In this
situation of expansion and specialization, the International Committee
on Taxonomy of Viruses was founded to establish, refine and maintain a
universal virus taxonomy system giving information to virologists about
the characteristics of the different groups of viruses. The Committee's
Sixth Report includes one order, 71 families, 11 subfamilies, and 175
genera and more than 4,000 member viruses. On 600 printed pages large
amounts of molecular biologic data, illustrated by micrographs and
virion diagrams, gene maps and tables give a comprehensive overview and
prove helpful in teaching, in diagnostics, in scholarly research, and in
the practical areas of medicine, veterinary medicine, plant pathology,
insect pest management, and biotechnology. "... est une référence
indispensable pour les chercheurs, les enseignants, les médecins ou les
vétérinaires mais aussi pour les étudiants et d'une manière générale
pour toutes les personnes intéressées par la virologie". Revue de
Médecine Vétérinaire "... an excellent, well presented and informative
volume. The report should be an essential reference volume for any
department or organization involved in the study of viruses". Quarterly