Viruses are big news. From pandemics such as HIV, swine flu, and SARS, we are constantly being bombarded with information about new lethal infections. In this Very Short Introduction Dorothy Crawford demonstrates how clever these entities really are. From their discovery and the unravelling of their intricate structures.

What are viruses? -- Viruses are everywhere -- Kill or be killed -- Emerging virus infections -- Epidemics and pandemics -- Persistent viruses -- Tumour viruses -- Turning the tables -- Viruses past, present, and future.