Antivirals

Question 1

What types of antivirals are active against HIV?

Answer 1

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as abacavir, lamivudine
Non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
HIV protease inhibitors- atazanavir
HIV binding fusion entry inhibitors- enfuvirtide
CCR5 co receptor antagonists- maraviroc
HIV integrase inhibitors- raltegravir

Question 2

What are nucleoside analogue HIV RT inhibitors?

Answer 2

Inhibit virus replication by preventing RNA making DNA for insertion into cell nucleus.
Binding site on RT can mutate- so for HIV multiple drug therapy is used.
Completely absorbed from gut. Eliminated by hepatic metabolism and short half life.
Side effects: neutropenia, anaemia, nausea, vomiting, headache, insomnia, maylgia, myositis.

Question 3

What are non nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors?

Answer 3

Produce conformational change to stop RT binding. Greater antiviral activity and better tolerated. Resistance still occurs.
Can cause: rash, nausea, headache, depression, drug interactions with drugs metabolised by CYP450.

Question 4

What are HIV protease inhibitors? How does resistance occur?

Answer 4

They block viral protein production in HIV. Resistance occurs by altered target for drug via amino acid sequence mutation.

Question 5

What are CCR5 co receptor antagonists?

Answer 5

Prevents entry of HIV into cell.

Question 6

What are HIV integrase inhibitors?

Answer 6

Prevents integration of viral DNA into host.

Question 7

What kinds of drug can be used for herpes virus and cytomegalovirus infections?

Answer 7

Nucleoside Viral DNA polymerase inhibitors

Non nucleoside viral DNA polymerase inhibitors.