L14- antiviral drugs

Question 1

what is a virus

Answer 1

nucleic acid in a protein coat with liosome envelope

Question 2

why are viruses hard to target

Answer 2

• replicate inside the host cell
• use host enzymes to make viral components
• would be at advanced stage before it’s detected

Question 3

what ways can you target the virus outside of the host cell

Answer 3

• vaccines
  -neuraminidase inhibitors - neuraminidase is produced by the virus to break the bonds so the drug prevents this
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Question 4

ways to inhibit genetic replication and integration of viruses

Answer 4

-DNA polymerase inhibitors so prevents DNA copies of virus - also used as a treatment
-reverse transcriptase inhibitors - prevents RNA making DNA copies like HIV
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Question 5

example of inhibitor of DNA polyemerase and how it works

Answer 5

• aciclovir
• acylo GTP is produced by the phosphorylation of the viral thmidase kinase
• the GTp will compete for the substitution of the bases on the DNA
• this inhibits the DNA polymerase and terminates the viral DNA chain

Question 6

eg of reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors

Answer 6

• nucleoside analogues - tri Phosphate produced to inhibit the RT competition and stop viral DNA chain

Question 7

mechanism of protease inhibitors

Answer 7

• prevents HIV protease so reduces the formation of structural proteins and enzymes for the HIV

Question 8

life cycle of malarial parasite

Answer 8

1. the oocyst cells from the mosquitoes travel to the liver 2 ways
2. more cells produced released into the blood which affects the RBCs
3. transmission of the parasites by the rupture of the infected RBCs

Question 9

what are the 2 ways that the mosquitoes cells can enter the liver

Answer 9

• pre-erythrotic phase - parasites develop and gets released into the blood
  exoerythrocytic phase - the parasite becomes dormant in the liver cells and becomes active due to a trigger

Question 10

What drugs can be used to treat malaria

Answer 10

antiprotozoals