Methods in Virology

Methods in Virology, Volume III focuses on the advancements of methods employed in virology, including immunological, microscopic, and serological techniques and transformation assays. The selection first offers information on the analysis of protein constituents and lipid components of viruses. Discussions focus on the applications of the existing methodology to lipid-containing viruses; physical methods for the characterization of virus proteins; renaturation of virus proteins and reconstitution of viruses; and chemical methods for the characterization of virus proteins. The text then elaborates on RNA polymerase, immunological techniques for animal viruses, and serological techniques for plant viruses. The book tackles the plaque assay of animal viruses, transformation assays, and the methods for selecting RNA bacteriophage. Topics include identification of the nucleic acid, assay methods for particular viruses, general consideration of the plaque assay method, virus-dilution media and procedures, monolayer assay methods, and incubation and staining of plates and counting of plaques. The manuscript also takes a look at the structural studies of viruses, microscopic techniques, electron microscopy of isolated virus particles and their components, and the application of thin sectioning. The selection is a vital source of data for researchers interested in the methods employed in virology.