This comprehensive Encyclopedic Reference systematically integrates the state-of-the-art knowledge on all virus genera in the standardized format of lists, tables and figures. Each chapter provides highly structured and condensed information on a single virus genus and was contributed by one of the worlds leading experts in that particular field. Each of the 241 taxonomically ordered chapters includes detailed information on individual genus members, historical events, virion morphology, genome properties, replication strategy, properties of individual transcripts and proteins, sequence accession numbers, biological properties, diseases, recombinant vector constructs, vaccine strains, key references, as well as a high-resolution particle image and a drawing of the genome organization. Its high content of easily accessible detail information makes this Encyclopedic Reference an indispensable tool for both researchers and lecturers.