Problems of Antiviral Therapy Viral infection is detected too late in the course of disease Massive proliferation and overwhelming intervention -virus "hijack host cells Rapid evolution of viruses- high mutation rate of viral nucleic acid polymerases compare Virus error in hiVrt 1 in 106 virions Host error in host polymerase 109 cells
Problems of Antiviral Therapy • Viral infection is detected too late in the course of disease. • Massive proliferation and overwhelming intervention – virus “hijack” host cells • Rapid evolution of viruses – high mutation rate of viral nucleic acid polymerases: compare: Virus ……………….error in HIV RT 1 in 106 virions Host ………………error in host polymerase 109 cells
Antiviral Therapy Drugs affecting nucleic acid synthesis-purines and pyrimidines analogs Inhibitors of RT(preventing synthesis of viral DNA and proteins) Protease inhibitors- affect synthesis of late proteins and packaging
Antiviral Therapy • Drugs affecting nucleic acid synthesis –purines and pyrimidines analogs • Inhibitors of RT (preventing synthesis of viral DNA and proteins). • Protease inhibitors – affect synthesis of late proteins and packaging