5. Antiviral medications

Question 1

Viruses

Answer 1

Sub-microscopic pathogen/organism that replicate inside the living cells of other organisms.

organism not really

Question 2

Bacteria

Answer 2

Self-reproducing, single celled organisms

Question 3

Differences between Virusus and Bacteria

Answer 3

Virus:
- Dont carry out metabolic processes
- Non-Living
- Derive energy from host cell
- Needs a living host to multiply
- Smaller

Bacteria:
- Carries out metabolic process
- living
- Derives energy from metabolic processes
- Self-reproducing
- Much larger

Question 4

How antiviral drugs function

Answer 4

• Blocks / inhibits neuraminidase/NA/ viral enzyme which allow viruses to pass through cell membrane
• Prevent virus from leaving/escaping host cell, thus cannot infect each other
• Becomes part of DNA virus which builds DNA
• Prevents virus from using cell to multiply / prevents virus from using cells metabolism

Question 5

Factors that make targeting viruses more difficult than bacteria

Answer 5

• Viruses mutate quickly, adapting to drugs much quicker.
• Bacteria are more complex and can be targeted in many ways, whereas viruses lack subunits that can be targeted by antibacterials.
• Bacteria can be killed by simple chemical agents, whereas viruses must be targeted on a genetic level.

Question 6

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) method of administration

Answer 6

Orally (not affected by stomach)

Question 7

Zanamivir (Relenza) method of administration

Answer 7

Inhalation (low oral bioavailability)

Question 8

Group Similarities between Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza)

Answer 8

Alkenyl
Carboxamide
Amine

Question 9

Groups in which Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) DIFFER
[Comes up relatively often]

Answer 9

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
- Ester (hydrolyzes to carboxyl in body)
- Ether
Zanamivir (Relenza)
- Ether
- Carboxyl
- 3x Hydroxyl (increased solubility in polar solvents)

Question 10

Difficulties associated with the development of drugs for AIDS

Answer 10

• HIV mutates
• HIV destroys white blood cells and attacks the immune system
• Virus has the ability to mutate
• Virus makes people vulnerable to infections

Question 11

Sociocultural factors of preventing and treating AIDS / HIV

Answer 11

• Condom use:
  Availability / Cost / Cultural resistance

Cultural factors:
Ignorance / Misinformation / Social Stigma

Illegal activities:
Drug use / Prostitution

Resources / Medical factors: Availability of medical services / Cost of drugs