Nursing Pharmacology: Antiviral Drugs
Antiviral Drugs
More about Influenza Viruses.
Orthomyxoviruses and paramyxoviruses are the two families originally described by "myxoviruses".4
The origination of the myxoviruses name was based on the finding that virions associated with influenza and some other enveloped, negative-strand RNA viruses bind to sialic acid residues in mucoproteins. (Here "ortho = correct and para = alternative).
The Orthomyxoviridae family not only includes influenza viruses A, and but also two tick-borne mammalian viruses in the Thogotovirus genus (from the Kenyan Thogoto forest where the virus was first isolated) and a virus (Isarvirus genus) which infects Atlantic salmon.
Influenza type A viruses cause most flu epidemics and are commonly found in both avian and mammalian species.4
By contrast, influenza type B is found only in humans; whereas, type C infects both humans and pigs.
Orthomyxoviruses exhibit both common structure and replication process.4
Influenza viral genome segments:
11 viral proteins are produced by influenza type A viruses.4
9 of these 11 are packaged in virions.4
Role of hemagglutinin in influenza viral replication:
Influenza virus has an ability to agglutinate red blood cells.4
This action appears mediated by influenza hemagglutinin (so named) protein (HA), a protein which binds to sialic acid-containing receptors.
These receptors are not only localized on red blood cells but also on most other cells.
HA forms a "trimer" in the virus enzyme and is key for virion binding to the cell surface and also for viral genomic entry into the cell.
|
|
|
|
|
This Web-based pharmacology and disease-based integrated teaching site is based on reference materials, that are believed reliable and consistent with standards accepted at the time of development. Possibility of human error and on-going research and development in medical sciences do not allow assurance that the information contained herein is in every respect accurate or complete. Users should confirm the information contained herein with other sources. This site should only be considered as a teaching aid for undergraduate and graduate biomedical education and is intended only as a teaching site. Information contained here should not be used for patient management and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with practicing medical professionals. Users of this website should check the product information sheet included in the package of any drug they plan to administer to be certain that the information contained in this site is accurate and that changes have not been made in the recommended dose or in the contraindications for administration. Advertisements that appear on this site are not reviewed for content accuracy and it is the responsibility of users of this website to make individual assessments concerning this information. Medical or other information thus obtained should not be used as a substitute for consultation with practicing medical or scientific or other professionals. |