Continuous genetic variation and selection of virus subpopulations in the course of RNA virus replications are intimately related to viral disease mechanisms. The central topics of this volume are the origins of the quasispecies concept, and the implications of quasispecies dynamics for viral populations.

From the contents:<br />Preface

What is a Quasispecies?
Quasispecies in Changing Environments: Theoretical Aspects
Viruses as Quasispecies: Biological Implications
Virus Fitness: Concepts, Quantification and Application to HIV Population Dynamics
Population Bottlenecks in Quasispecies Dynamics
HIV Diversity and the Control of AIDS
Evolution of Virulence in Picornaviruses
Molecular Mechanisms of Poliovirus Variation and Evolution
Viral Population Dynamics During Hepatitis C Virus Infections
Evolutionary Influences in Arboviral Disease
Arenavirus Diversity and Evolution: Quasispecies in vivo
Mutant Clouds and Occupation of Sequence Space in Plant RNA Viruses
Parvovirus Variation for Disease: a Difference with RNA Viruses?- Conceptual Transitions in our Understanding of RNA Virus Evolution: A Historical Perspective
Subject Index.