Antivirals Flashcards
What is the process of viral replication
- Attachment - Haemaglutinin on virus with host cell surface receptor
- Uncoating - M2 ion channel H+ influx into virus allows nucleocapsid breakdown
- DNA/RNA replication
- Protein synthesis
- Assembly
- Release - Neuraminidase prevents virus adhesion to host cell membrane on release
What are features of antiviral agents
Few types of Antiviral agents
Virostatic, not virocidal
Not broad spectrum
Not given empirically
What are general mechanisms of action of antiviral agents
Virocidal:
Organic solvents, Non-organic solvents, Cryotherapy, Radiotherapy
Not given systematically
Virostatic:
Risk of resistance, not effective in latent infection, requires host immune response to clear existing virus
Immunomodulators:
Enhance host immune (interferons), replace depleted host immune (immunoglobulin)
What are the main groups of antiviral agents
Anti-herpes virus
Anti-hepatitis virus
Anti-retroviral
Anti-influenza
What are types of anti-herpes drugs
Aciclovir
Ganiclovir
Foscarnet
What is mechanism of action of Aciclovir
Enters virally infected cells Activated to nucleoside triophosphate by viral Thymidylate Kinase Incorporated into viral DNA Bind to and Inhibit DNA polymerase Act as chain terminator
What are indications of Aciclovir
Herpes simplex encephalitis
Cold sores (HSV1)
Genital ulcers (HSV2)
VZV (chicken pox, shingles >50)
What are types of resistance for Aciclovir
Viral strains that:
Lack thymidylate kinase
mutation in thymidylate kinase gene
Mutation in DNA polymerase gene that prevents binding with Aciclovir triphosphate
What are side effects of Aciclovir
Nephrotoxicity
CNS: lethargy, confusion, tremor, hallucination
What is mechanism of action of Ganciclovir
Same as Aciclovir
But phosphorylation also catalysed by host and viral enzyme (phosphotranserase)
Thus also activated in non infected host cell
What are indications for Ganciclovir
CMV infection: Colitis Retinitis Pneumonitis Pneumonia
What are side effects of Ganciclovir
Nephrotoxic
Neurotoxic: confusion, headache, behavioural change
What is mechanism of action of foscarnet
Inhibit binding of nucleoside triphosphate to viral DNA
(Thus does not need to be phosphorylated to be active)
Inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase
What are indications of Foscarnet
Aciclovir resistant HSV
Ganciclovir resistant CMV
HIV
What are side effects of Foscarnet
Narrow therapeutic index
GI: N+V, diarrhoea
Nephrotoxicity
CNS: headache, hallucination, tremor, seizure
What are types of anti-hepatitis drugs
Lamivudine Adefovir Entecavir Telbivudine Ribavirin IFN alpha
What is mechanism of action of Lamivudine
Nucleoside Reverse transcriptase inhibitor:
Nucleoside analogue
Gets activated by phosphorylation in cell by nucleoside kinase
Incorporated into viral DNA
Inhibits RT and acts as chain terminator
What are indications of Lamivudine
Chronic hepatitis B
HIV
What is resistance of Lamivudine
Common - 67% by 4 years
What are side effects of Lamivudine
Well tolerated
Raised liver enzymes
What is mechanism of action of Adefovir
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
What are indications of Adefovir
Chronic hepatitis B
What is the resistance in Adefovir
Slow to develop
What are side effects of adefovir
Well tolerated
GI: nausea, diarrhoea, abdo discomfort
CNS: headache
What is mechanism of action of entecavir
Nucleoside RT inhibitor
What are indications of entecavir
Chronic hepatitis B
Lamivudine-resistant