Antiviral drugs Flashcards
What are the features of the influenza genome?
- Eight segments
- ssRNA
- Negative sense
What is the function of the influenza M2 ion channel?
Triggers uncoating of genome when virus is exposed to low pH
What surrounds the influenza nucleocapsid?
Lipid bilayer envelope
Which two spike proteins are located in influenza envelope?
- Haemagglutinin
2. Neuraminidase
What is the function of haemagglutinin?
Mediates initial attachment of virus to host cell
How is the influenza nucleocapsid released from its envelope?
Haemagglutinin undergoes structural rearrangement following attachment, endocytosis and acidification
What is the function of neuraminidase?
- Prevents viral aggregation
- Facilitates release from host cells
- Possible role as virulence factor
What is responsible for antigenic drift and shift in influenza?
Variations and mutations in neuraminidase and haemagglutinin
What do anti-herpes agents target?
Virally-encoded DNA polymerases
How do viral DNA polymerases act?
In the same manner as eukaryotic DNA polymerases
Join 5’-OH of base being added to 3’-OH of sugar in polymerised strand of DNA
What is the distinguishing feature of purine analogues?
All lack cyclic sugar of 2’-deoxyguanosine
Why is aciclovir selective for virus-infected cells?
- Only virus-infected cells have thymidine kinase required to monophosphorylate drug
- Drug preferentially binds to viral DNA polymerase
Why do ganciclovir and penciclovir permit chain extension?
They have 3’OH moieties
What is contained in an HIV virion?
- Two copies of ssRNA genome
- Reverse transcriptase
- Aspartic protease
What is the role of HIV reverse transcriptase?
Converts ssRNA to dsDNA