Books

Viruses and society

ASBMB Today Staff
Nov. 7, 2022

"Viruses and Society" is a textbook written by Patricia Melloy, professor of biological sciences, Fairleigh Dickinson University

 

Viruses and Society by Patricia Melloy

Viruses and Society” is geared toward professionals and students in college-level introductory biology courses devoted to understanding viruses, vaccines and their global impact. In approachable and simplified language, the book introduces cells, DNA and viruses themselves. This is followed by a review of how the immune system works and how scientists and physicians harness the immune system to protect people through vaccines. Specific chapters focus on the 1918 influenza pandemic, the fight to eradicate polio, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the current COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, the book reviews the uses of viruses in genetic engineering and gene therapy. It concludes by describing public health initiatives to keep emerging viruses in check and the role of scientific communication in how viruses are perceived and have an impact on our society.

CRC Press

Are you an ASBMB member who has published a book recently?

If so, we’d like to feature your work in an upcoming issue of ASBMB Today. Please email a synopsis (under 100 words), an image of the book’s cover and your headshot to ASBMB Today.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
ASBMB Today Staff

This article was written by a member or members of the ASBMB Today staff.

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

Cedeño–Rosario and Kaweesa win research award
Member News

Cedeño–Rosario and Kaweesa win research award

Sept. 8, 2025

The award honors outstanding early-career scientists studying cancer, infectious disease and basic science.

ASBMB names 2026 award winners
Award

ASBMB names 2026 award winners

Sept. 5, 2025

Check out their lectures at the annual meeting in March in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Peer through a window to the future of science
Annual Meeting

Peer through a window to the future of science

Sept. 3, 2025

Aaron Hoskins of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Sandra Gabelli of Merck, co-chairs of the 2026 ASBMB annual meeting, to be held March 7–10, explain how this gathering will inspire new ideas and drive progress in molecular life sciences.

Castiglione and Ingolia win Keck Foundation grants
Member News

Castiglione and Ingolia win Keck Foundation grants

Sept. 1, 2025

They will receive at least $1 million of funding to study the biological mechanisms that underly birds' longevity and sequence–function relationships of intrinsically disordered proteins.

How undergrad research catalyzes scientific careers
Essay

How undergrad research catalyzes scientific careers

Aug. 27, 2025

Undergraduate research doesn’t just teach lab skills, it transforms scientists. For Antonio Rivera and Julissa Cruz–Bautista, joining a lab became a turning point, fostering critical thinking, persistence and research identity.

Simcox and Gisriel receive mentoring award
Member News

Simcox and Gisriel receive mentoring award

Aug. 25, 2025

They were honored for contributing their time, knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to mentoring postdocs in their labs.