First ed. by S.E. Luria; 2d ed. by S.E. Luria and J.E. Darnell. Includes bibliographical references (pages 491-570) and index.

Introduction: the science of virology -- Titration of viruses -- Properties of virons -- The biochemistry of viruses -- General features of virus-host interaction -- Phage-bacterium interaction: general features -- Productive phage cycle: the t-even coliphages -- Phage-host interaction characteristics of selected phage groups -- Bacteriophage -- Other temperate phages -- Introduction to animal cell biology -- Animal viruses: adsorption and entry into the cell -- Animal viruses multiplication: the RNA viruses -- Animal virus multiplication: DNA viruses and retroviruses -- Effects of animal viruses on host cells and organisms -- Tumor viruses -- Interaction of plant viruses with their hosts -- Insect-pathogenic viruses -- Origin and nature of viruses.