CP3 HIV/HCV protease inhibitors

Question 1

characteristics of a resistant virus?

Answer 1

4-6 mutations, high KI(low inhibitor affinity) and an efficiency close to the WT

Question 2

the biochemical basis of recommended combination therapies used against HIV and HCV

Answer 2

combination therapies are the standard.

both viruses (being RNA viruses) have high mutation rates and can develop resistance quickly

more facets of life cycle targeted, less likely virus will be able to adapt to completely resist

Question 3

what are the sources of drug resistance and treatment failure of HIV and HCV therapes

Answer 3

many factors cause drug resistnace

RDRP has no proofreading, high error rate. This along wtih quick replication allows for fast changes in the genome

under certain selective pressures (spotty aherence to drug regimine) development of resistance can occur even more quickly.

Question 4

treatment failure often happens as a result of (2)

Answer 4

development of resistance to treatment OR noncompliance by patient

Question 5

what makes the development of new antiviral drugs a constant concern?

Answer 5

high mustation rates in both viruses - resistances emerge often

Question 6

what are some barriers to a patient starting treatment?

Answer 6

getting them to start and stick wtih it are both challenges

• lifelong commitment as the virus is within the patients genome
• new and old treatments have many side effects that can lower quality of life
• drugs are very expensive

Question 7

HIV vs HCV infection lengths?

Answer 7

New HCV drugs with very promising early results have been developed, making the duration for such an infection potentially much shorter than that of HIV infections