Viruses: Essential Agents of Life

Preface.- 1. Revolutionary struggle for existence: introduction to four intriguing puzzles in virus research.- 2. Quasispecies dynamics of RNA viruses.- 3. The origin of virions and virocells: the escape hypothesis revisited.- 4. Scratching the Surface of Biology's Dark Matter.- 5. Virus universe: can it be constructed from a limited number of viral architectures.- 6. The addiction module as a social force.- 7. Viral integration and consequences on host gene expression.- 8. Persistent plant viruses:  molecular hitchhikers or epigenetic elements?.- 9. The concept of virus in the post-Megavirus era.- 10. Unpacking the baggage : Origin and Evolution of Giant Viruses.- 11. Megavirales composing a fourth domain of life: Mimiviridae and Marseilleviridae.- 12. On viruses, bats and men: a natural history of food-borne viral infections.- 13. LTR retroelement-derived protein-coding genes and vertebrate evolution.- 14. Koala retrovirus endogenisation in action.- 15. The evolutionary interplay between exogenous and endogenous sheep betaretroviruses.- 16. Endogenous retroviruses and the epigenome.- 17. From viruses to genes: syncytins.- 18. Hepatitis G Virus or GBV-C: A Natural Anti-HIV Interfering Virus.- 19. Salutary Contributions of Viruses to Medicine and Public Health.- 20. From Molecular Entities to Competent Agents: Viral Infection-Derived Consortia Act as Natural Genetic Engineers.