Antiviral Drugs [Hardcover]

John S. Driscoll (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0566083108 | ISBN-13: 978-0566083105 | Publication Date: July 1, 2002

Viruses are microorganisms that are as varied in type as the plants and animals of the macroscopic world. A particularly virulent virus can infect and kill a human host, which is 10 million times larger. The human immune system is the first line of defense against any infectious organism. However, sometimes this protection proves inadequate to the viral challenge. In this situation humans attempt to provide additional aid in retarding viral reproduction through the use of antiviral drugs until an overwhelmed immune system is able to cope with the infection. This type of self-help is the object of antiviral drug research.

Antiviral Drugs by John Driscoll provides up-to-date information on the classification, history, structure, preclinical development, bioactivity, pharmacology, and effectiveness of the 72 most important antiviral agents. A carefully researched collection of over 400 references places details of definitive recent antiviral research at the reader's fingertips. An appendix contains for each drug an at-a-glance, detailed sketch, which includes chemical structure and molecular formula, identification numbers, synonyms, physical properties, toxicities, and manufacturers. Introductory chapters describe where viruses fit into the world of microorganisms, explore the unique properties of DNA and RNA viruses, and show how new antiviral drugs are discovered and developed into useful medicines.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Viruses are microorganisms that are as varied in type as the plants and animals of the macroscopic world. A particularly virulent virus can infect and kill a human host, which is 10 million times larger. The human immune system is the first line of defense against any infectious organism. However, sometimes this protection proves inadequate to the viral challenge. In this situation humans attempt to provide additional aid in retarding viral reproduction through the use of antiviral drugs until an overwhelmed immune system is able to cope with the infection. This type of self-help is the object of antiviral drug research.

Antiviral Drugs by John Driscoll provides up-to-date information on the classification, history, structure, preclinical development, bioactivity, pharmacology, and effectiveness of the 72 most important antiviral agents. A carefully researched collection of over 400 references places details of definitive recent antiviral research at the reader's fingertips. An appendix contains for each drug an at-a-glance, detailed sketch, which includes chemical structure and molecular formula, identification numbers, synonyms, physical properties, toxicities, and manufacturers. Introductory chapters describe where viruses fit into the world of microorganisms, explore the unique properties of DNA and RNA viruses, and show how new antiviral drugs are discovered and developed into useful medicines. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

John S. Driscoll earned a PhD in chemistry from Princeton University and after eight years as Research Group Leader in private industry, he joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, MD where he initiated an intramural research program for the discovery of new anticancer drugs. From 1980 to 1983, he was Associate Director, Developmental Therapeutics Program for the NCI where he was responsible for managing preclinical intramural and extramural anticancer drug discovery and development. Dr Driscoll returned to experimental science as NCI's Chief of the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry. His laboratory conducted research in drug design, organic synthesis, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, and information technology in the area of new anticancer and anti-HIV drug discovery. He retired from the NCI after publishing over 140 scientific papers and obtaining numerous patents.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0566083108
• ISBN-13: 978-0566083105
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,681,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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