Molecular Biology of the Hepatitis B Virus presents a comprehensive account of the various molecular aspects of the life cycle of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Topics covered include the animal model systems, sequence data on the hepadnavirus genomes, the transcripts coded for the biral genome and sequence elements involved in regulating their expression, hepadnavirus replication, and analysis of the various HBV gene products and their role in virion synthesis and assembly. Other important features of the book include its discussions of the consequences of long term exposure to hepadnavirus infection and its association with hepatocellular carcinoma, the use of recombinant technologies in the generation of second generation vaccines, and the utilization of recombinant technologies to analyze an immune mediated disease. Researchers studying hepadnaviruses will find a wealth of information in this essential reference volume.