Antivirals

Question 1

What is a virus?

Answer 1

Sub-cellular, inter-cellular parasites.

Question 2

What is a virion?

Answer 2

Mature virus particle outside of sub-cell.

Question 3

What are examples of sicknesses caused by viruses?

Answer 3

Ebola, SARS, flu, smallpox

Question 4

Are there any broad-spectrum antivirals?

Answer 4

No.

Question 5

What is Influenza type C?

Answer 5

Causes mild or no symptoms.

Question 6

What is Influenza type B?

Answer 6

Primarily human disease. Milder than type A. No sub-types. Has strains though.

Question 7

What is influenza type A?

Answer 7

Multiple sub-types (H1NI). Can affect humans and animals. Can cause pandemic.

Question 8

What kind of genome do Influenza type A and B have?

Answer 8

RNA genome, but segmented.

Question 9

What major two cell surface proteins do Influenza type A and B have?

Answer 9

1. Hemagglutinin. 2. Neuraminidase.

Question 10

What does the H1 stand for in (for example) H1N1?

Answer 10

The specific type of Hemagglutinin.

Question 11

What does the N1 stand for in (for example) H1N1?

Answer 11

The specific type of Neuraminidase.

Question 12

What is influenza re-assortment?

Answer 12

Mixing two genomes of the same type of virus.

Question 13

How is it thought that H1N1 developed?

Answer 13

Quadruple re-assortment.

Question 14

What is an antigenic DRIFT?

Answer 14

Small, gradual changes due to point mutations in the HA and NA genes.

Question 15

What is an antigenic SHIFT?

Answer 15

Sudden, major change to produce a novel virus that was not currently circulating among people (re-assortment-influenza a).

Question 16

When can antigenic shifts lead to pandemics?

Answer 16

1. New virus is introduced into human population. 2. Can cause serious illness in humans. 3. Easy person to person spread.

Question 17

When is a new strain produced?

Answer 17

As a result of antigenic drift.

Question 18

When are new sub-types produced?

Answer 18

As a result of antigenic shift.

Question 19

What does Hemagglutinin do?

Answer 19

It binds to its receptor on the hosts cell allowing virus to bind and enter host.

Question 20

What does Neuraminidase do?

Answer 20

Enzyme that allows for progeny budding and release of buds.

Question 21

What do Neuraminidase and Hemagglutinin affect?

Answer 21

Sialic acid. Hemagglutinin binds to it. Neuraminidase gets rid of it.

Question 22

What kind of drug is Zanamivir (Relenza)?

Answer 22

It is a Neuraminidase inhibitor.

Question 23

What kind of drug is Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)?

Answer 23

It is a Neuraminidase inhibitor.

Question 24

How do neuraminidase inhibitors work?

Answer 24

Progeny viruses can not escape host cell.

Question 25

What is the problem with neuraminidase inhibitors?

Answer 25

They must be taken within 48 hours of infection.

Question 26

Which neuraminidase inhibitor can be taken orally?

Answer 26

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

Question 27

What kind of drug is Peramivir (Rapivab)?

Answer 27

A neuraminidase inhibitor.

Question 28

How is Peramivir (Rapivab) taken?

Answer 28

Via IV.

Question 29

How is Zanamivir (Relenza) taken?

Answer 29

Via powder that needs to be inhaled.

Question 30

What side effects do neuraminidase inhibitors have? (2)

Answer 30

1. Can cause serious allergic reactions. 2. Neuropsychiatric problems.

Question 31

What kind of drug is T-705 (favipiravir)?

Answer 31

Targets Viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase.

Question 32

How does Favipiravir work?

Answer 32

It targets Viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase, leading to the polymerase making lethal mistakes in viral RNA.