Dr. Papenburg -- Antiviral Agents Flashcards
4 virus-specific events that antiviral agents must ideally inhibit
- Block viral entry into the cell
- Block viral exit from the cell
- Be active inside the host cell
- Exert some sort of immunomodulatory effect
How a therpeutic agent’s antiviral effect is measured
By its ability to *inhibit *viral replication (50% Inhibitory Concentration)
6 stages of viral replication
- Attachment
- Entry
- Uncoating
- Synthesis
- Early proteins
- Nucleic acids
- Late proteins
- Assemply
- Release
2 classes of antivirals against influenza
- Adamantanes (M2 ion channel inhibitors)
- Neuraminidase inhibitors
2 adamantanes
- Amantadine
- Rimantidine
2 neuraminidase inhibitors
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
- Zanamivir (Relenza)
Amantadine function
Disable M2 protein –> prevent viral uncoating –> virus rendered inert
Neuraminidase inhibitor function
Inhibit release of virions and promote clumping
Target stage of Adamantanes
Uncoating
Target stage of neuraminidase inhibitors
Release
Flu type covered by adamantanes
Influenza A
Flu types covered by NAIs
A and B
Administration of adamantanes
Oral
Administration of NAIs
Zanamivir = Inhaled
Oseltamivir = Oral
Age range for adamantanes
> 1 year old
Age range for NAIs
Zanamivir = > or = 7 yo
Oseltamivir = all ages
4 side effects of adamantanes
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
Side effects of NAIs
Zanamivir = Bronchospasm
Oseltamivir = GI
Signs of resistance against treatment with adamantanes
Persistent or recurrent fever in children
Type of mutation involved in resistance to adamantanes
Single point mutation of the M2 protein
Effect of mutation for adamantane resistance on viral replication, transmission and virulence
No impairment
Effect of mutations for NI resistance on replication, infectivity and virulence
Decreased
Major problem with adamantanes
Rapid emergence of resistance during treatment
5 benefits of oseltamivir therapy
Reduction of:
- Duration of illness in adults and children
- Viral shedding and viral load
- Antibiotic use
- Length of hospitalization
- Mortality in hospital
4 types of people to treat for influenza
Prompt empiric treatment recommended for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza AND:
- Illness requiring hospitalization
- Progressive, severe, or complicated illness
- At risk for severe disease
- Essential healthcare workers
7 types of patients who are an increased risk for complications
- Chronic medical conditions
- Living in a nursing home or long-term care center
- Age 65 years and over
- Pregnant women, especially in T2 and T3
- Also post-partum 2 - 4 weeks
- Healthy children <24 months
- If severe or progressive disease
- Neurological/nerudevelopmental disorders
- Severe obesity = BMI >40
4 alternatives to oseltamivir
- Zanamivir (if tolerated)
- IV zanamivir (special access)
- IV peramivir (investigational; only in emergency)
- Combination Tamiflu + Amantidine
How many types of herpesviruses are there? Name most of them
8 types:
- HSV-1
- HSV-2
- VZV
- CMV
- EBV
- HHV-6
- HHV-8
Acyclovir activity for herpesvirus
- HSV
- VZV (lower affinity)
- Very poor activity against others
Acyclovir bioavailability po
15 - 30%
Metabolism of acycolvir (ACV)
- Phosphorylated to monophosphate form by viral thymidine kinase (TK)
- Di- and tri-phosphrylated by host cellular enzymes
Antivirally active form of ACV
Triphosphate form
Triphosphate ACV function
Inhibit viral DNA synthesis by:
- Competing with dGTP for viral DNA polymerase
- Chain termination
Most common reason for ACV resistance in HSV
Virus deficient in TK
NOTE: rarely due to altered TK or DNA pool; rare in immunocompetent