Virus infection and apoptosis (issue II) an introduction: cheating death or death as a fact of life?

Apoptosis represents the cell's innate ability to self-destruct and is an important cellular response mechanism against virus infection. The purpose of this series of articles is to critically review significant advances in important areas of virology with respect to virus infection and its relationship with apoptosis. In the Introduction to the first issue (Intern. Rev. Imm., 22: 321-326, 2003), we dedicated these entire two issues to the memory of Dr. Lois K. Miller. Dr. Miller's Ph.D. advisor, Robert D. Wells, and two of her students, Rollie Clem and Lorena Passarelli, contributed touching remembrances of their associations with Dr. Miller. In the Introduction to this issue, an overview of key points of discussion detailed in each chapter of the two issues is provided. The future of the emerging field of viral apoptosis remains bright, indeed.