Working Safely with Vaccinia Virus -- Construction and Isolation of Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Using Genetic Markers -- Construction of Recombinant Vaccinia Virus -- Transient and Inducible Expression of Vaccinia/T7 Recombinant Viruses -- Construction of Recombinant Vaccinia Viruses Using Leporipoxvirus-Catalyzed Recombination and Reactivation of Orthopoxvirus DNA -- Construction of cDNA Libraries in Vaccinia Virus -- Construction and Isolation of Recombinant MVA -- Growing Poxviruses and Determining Virus Titer -- Rapid Preparation of Vaccinia Virus DNA Template for Analysis and Cloning by PCR -- Orthopoxvirus Diagnostics -- An In Vitro Transcription System for Studying Vaccinia Virus Early Genes -- An In Vitro Transcription System for Studying Vaccinia Virus Late Genes -- Studying Vaccinia Virus RNA Processing In Vitro -- Methods for Analysis of Poxvirus DNA Replication -- Studying the Binding and Entry of the Intracellular and Extracellular Enveloped Forms of Vaccinia Virus -- Pox, Dyes, and Videotape -- Interaction Analysis of Viral Cytokine-Binding Proteins Using Surface Plasmon Resonance -- Monitoring of Human Immunological Responses to Vaccinia Virus -- Vaccinia Virus as a Tool for Immunologic Studies -- Mouse Models for Studying Orthopoxvirus Respiratory Infections -- Viral Glycoprotein-Mediated Cell Fusion Assays Using Vaccinia Virus Vectors -- Use of Dual Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Vectors to Assay Viral Glycoprotein-Mediated Fusion with Transfection-Resistant Primary Cell Targets -- Poxvirus Bioinformatics -- Preparation and Use of Molluscum Contagiosum Virus from Human Tissue Biopsy Specimens.

Recombinant vaccinia viruses have become important in recent years, both as protein expression vectors, and-in the age of bioterrorism-as powerful tools for developing new smallpox vaccines, diagnostics, and understanding of poxvirus pathogenesis. In Vaccinia Virus and Poxvirology: Methods and Protocols, internationally recognized experts and leaders in poxvirology describe in step-by-step detail the successful techniques they have perfected to study and work with vaccinia virus and other poxviruses. They offer cutting-edge techniques for the construction and characterization of recombinant viruses; for the study of poxvirus gene transcription and DNA replication; and for the use of the virus in immunologic and cell-cell fusion assays. Other methods cover poxvirus bioinformatics, aspects of viral pathogenesis at both a protein and an animal model level, and the study of immune responses to poxvirus-the latter critical to the important role of vaccinia virus in smallpox vaccination and its potential role as a vaccine vector directed against infectious agents and cancer. The protocols presented follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, each one offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and timely, Vaccinia Virus and Poxvirology: Methods and Protocols offers virologists and vaccinologists an unequaled source of proven techniques for understanding poxviruses and developing defenses against their use as bioterrorist agents.