PHAR 301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Cytomegalovirus Retinitis, Ribavirin
23 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
The genetic information of viruses is encoded in either rna or dna in different states: the enzymes that the virus is going to use is either their own enzymes or our enzymes. The machinery responsible for synthesizing the genetic information of viruses is a prime target for antiviral drugs. E. g. the retrovirus hiv will attach to a cd4 receptor of t-cells: you can have a cd4 decoy which will soak the virus from the system. Then the virus uncoats and transfers its dna into the nucleus: amantidine is used against influenza; it targets the machinery responsible for uncoating the virus - this is another target spot. The viral dna is then replicated: a number of drugs target dna replication. When a virus carries their own dna polymerase, then there is something to target: the dna polymerase of the virus is not that far from our own so this is another challenge.
