Diabetes and Viruses

This book will assemble the views of many of the world's experts in the field of viruses and diabetes. It will look critically at some unanswered questions, in the field. Among these, How do viruses destroy or modify the pancreatic islet? Which viruses are involved? What is the role of virus-induced cytokines> Could vaccines prevent virus-induced diabetes? Until recent technological advances, progress in the understanding of the relationship between viruses and diabetes has been hampered. New technologies are helping shed new light on these mysteries. This will be the first comprehensive volume on this topic.

Diabetes, in all of its forms, now constitutes a growing health concern, affecting all segments of the world’s population. There is great interest in the factors which influence its etiology and progression. Among these, a number of viruses feature prominently. Hindered by technological limitations, research into this relationship has hitherto been scarce. Recent advances, however, have opened up the field and there is a burgeoning body of literature on the subject. Unfortunately, this literature has been diffuse and often difficult to access.

For the first time, this book compiles the views of many of the world’s experts in the field. It addresses questions, ranging from how viruses may destroy or modify the function of pancreatic islets; to which viruses are the most likely culprits; to whether vaccines or etiologic therapies might be used to prevent virus-induced diabetes. Diabetes and Viruses is the first comprehensive volume on an important and expanding field of research that is of interest to clinicians, healthcare managers, epidemiologists, veterinarians, and basic scientists.