anti-virals and treatment of common viral infections

Question 1

what are the two therapeutic option categories?

Answer 1

antiviral drugs
immune modulation

Question 2

name some antiviral drugs

Answer 2

Aciclovir & valaciclovir
Ganciclovir & valganciclovir
Foscarnet
Ribavirin
CoVID antivirals

Question 3

name some immune modulation

Answer 3

Lifting immunosuppression
Specific Immunoglobulins
(VZIG and HBIG)
Human Normal Immunoglobulin
Rituximab and Mab/Nib (risks)
CoVID immunomodulators

Question 4

describe aciclovir

Answer 4

Anti-herpesvirus drug, tried and trusted due in most part to its high selective toxicity.

Question 5

what is aciclovir used to treat?

Answer 5

Typically used to treat or prevent HSV1 HSV2 VZV infection.

Question 6

side effects to aciclovir

Answer 6

Few side effects (accumulation causes neurotoxicity, and maintain hydration/dose adjust in renal dysfunction)

Question 7

what is the mechanism of action of acv?

Answer 7

Pro-drug, activated to a monophosphate by the viral thymidine kinase only in herpesvirus infected cells
Host cell kinases then adds a second and third phosphate group
Aciclovir triphosphate competitively inhibits herpesvirus specific DNA polymerases
Further viral DNA synthesis is inhibited without affecting other normal cellular functions