Characteristics of Viruses - ANSWER •Nonliving agents that infect bacteria,
plants, animals
•
•Do not contain
•cellular organelles
•DNA or RNA (have one or the other)
•
•Can be classified as intracellular parasites
•Must be in host cell to replicate and cause infection
•Many viruses infect a specific host cell
•
•They do have their own enzymes which can be targeted with medications
What do DNA and RNA do? - ANSWER store and transmit genetic information
DNA: blueprint
RNA: decodes DNA and relays instructions to cell
What is best treatment for viruses? - ANSWER Prevention
Are viruses living? - ANSWER No - they are non-cellular structures
Need a host cell to replicate
Why do most viruses require no pharmacotherapy? - ANSWER Because they are
self-limiting' (time is limited, will die on their own)
,like rhinovirus
Which viruses require aggressive therapy? - ANSWER Those that can cause
serious disease and are life-threatening.
like HIV and Herpes (always in you)
Challenges of Antiviral Therapy - ANSWER Viruses mutate rapidly, and drug
becomes ineffective
Difficult for drug to find virus without injuring normal cells
Each antiviral drug specific to one particular virus
•Antiviral drugs are clinically difficult to make and are very expensive
Broad spectrum vs Narrow spectrum - ANSWER Broad: effective against many
species
Narrow: one restricted group of microorganisms
virus are known for - ANSWER mutations.. always changing. Can adapt
chicken pox (varicella) - ANSWER airborne and contact (family of DNA viruses)
herpes family
•Cause repeated blister-like lesions on the skin, genitals, and other mucosal
surfaces
Treat for itching - once crusted stop contagious
a chicken pox on dark skin - ANSWER brown skin matters - a great resource to see
how skin diseases look on darker skin
When chicken pox leaves and goes dormant... how can it return? - ANSWER
Herpes virus will return as Shingles
Antiviral goal tx for herpes - ANSWER •can lower the frequency of acute herpes
episodes, diminish the intensity of the acute disease
GOAL
•Relieve acute symptoms, prevent recurrences
, •Does not cure patients
shingles (herpes zoster) - ANSWER development of painful, inflamed blisters that
follow the nerve routes
always on one side
herpes simplex - ANSWER "cold sores";
clear vesicles with red base that evolve into pustules, usually at lip-skin junction
Common symptom of Herpes - ANSWER BLISTERS - fluid filled
1 - mouth
2. Genitals
3. Other places
4. Shingles always on one side
*many times it is stress induced
Pharmotherapy of Herpes - ANSWER Inhibits viral replication by suppressing
synthesis of viral DNA
OG drug for herpes virus - ANSWER acyclovir (Zovirax)
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