Nursing Pharmacology: Antiviral Drugs
Antiviral Drugs
Anti-viral drugs with activity against influenza.
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As described earlier, influenza viruses are enveloped RNA viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family.4
The influenza viral genome is characterized by RNA molecules that encode for numerous viral proteins.
RNA segments present in the virion are associated with the nucleoprotein (NP) and three viral polymerase subunits (PA, PB1, and PB2) forming the ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP).
Antigenic differences in viral proteins provide the basis of influenza virus classification (types A, B, C).4
Influenza A viruses are subtyped further on the basis of antigenic differences in surface glycoproteins, extending from the viral envelope, the hemagglutinin glycoprotein (HA) and NA (neuraminidase).
The hemagglutinin glycoprotein, HA, is both the most important antigenic determinant targeted by neutralizing antibodies and is essential for infection initiation.
The role of hemagglutinin, HA, in the initiation of infection is defined by its attachment to host cell receptors that express terminal sialic acid (SA) residues.
This process enhances viral entry into host cells.
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