Antiviral and Antifungal Pharmacology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering non-retroviral antiviral drugs, antiretrovirals, post-exposure prophylaxis, and antifungal agents based on the lecture transcript.

Ganciclovir

An analogue of acyclovir active against cytomegalovirus (CMV) that is activated intracellularly to its triphosphate form to inhibit viral DNA polymerase and viral DNA synthesis.

Sustained Virologic Response (SVR)

The maintenance of an undetectable Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level for 12 weeks or more after the completion of antiviral therapy.

Sofosbuvir

An NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor that directly targets Hepatitis C virus (HCV) to block viral RNA synthesis.

Simeprevir

An NS3/4A protease inhibitor that prevents processing of viral polyprotein into functional viral proteins in Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Remdesivir

An antiviral drug used against coronavirus infections that acts by inhibiting viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, interfering with viral RNA synthesis.

Acyclovir

A deoxyguanosine analogue converted by herpesvirus-specific thymidine kinase to its monophosphate form and then by cellular kinases to acyclovir triphosphate, which competitively inhibits viral DNA polymerase and causes chain termination.

Amantadine

A tricyclic amine anti-influenza drug that inhibits the viral M2 protein ion channel, thereby preventing uncoating of the viral genome in Influenza A virus.

Oseltamivir

An ester prodrug sialic acid analogue neuraminidase inhibitor active against Influenza A and B, hydrolysed by liver esterases to active oseltamivir carboxylate to prevent release of virions.

Zanamivir

An influenza neuraminidase inhibitor active against Influenza A and B, administered by inhalation as a powder because of very low oral bioavailability.

Interferon-alpha

A glycoprotein cytokine that binds to receptors associated with the JAK-STAT pathway, inducing transcription of proteins that suppress viral protein synthesis and replication.

Ribavirin

A purine nucleoside analogue converted intracellularly into mono- and triphosphate derivatives that inhibit GTP synthesis and viral RNA synthesis, with dose-dependent haemolytic anaemia as its main adverse effect.

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

Nucleoside or nucleotide analogues (such as Zidovudine) that undergo intracellular phosphorylation to competitively inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase and cause viral DNA chain termination.

Zidovudine (AZT)

A thymidine analogue NRTI phosphorylated to its active triphosphate form, which lacks a 3'-OH group, competitively inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase, and causes DNA chain termination.

Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)

Antiretroviral compounds (such as Nevirapine and Efavirenz) that non-competitively inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by binding directly to an allosteric site without requiring intracellular phosphorylation.

Protease Inhibitors (PIs)

Antiretroviral drugs (such as Lopinavir and Ritonavir) that bind to the active site of HIV protease, inhibiting cleavage of viral polyproteins and producing immature, non-infectious virions.

Integrase Inhibitors

Antiretroviral drugs (such as Raltegravir and Dolutegravir) that prevent HIV integrase from integrating double-stranded proviral DNA into host chromosomal DNA.

Maraviroc

A CCR5 co-receptor antagonist that blocks the CCR5 receptor on host cells, preventing attachment and entry of HIV.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Short-term antiretroviral therapy started as soon as possible (preferably within 2 hours, not later than 72 hours) and given for 28 days after potential HIV exposure to prevent establishment of infection.

Enfuvirtide

A synthetic peptide fusion inhibitor administered subcutaneously twice daily that binds to HIV-1 gp41 to block viral envelope fusion with the host cell membrane.

Ketoconazole

A systemic imidazole antifungal that inhibits fungal lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase to impair ergosterol synthesis, but has significant antiandrogenic and endocrine adverse effects due to inhibition of mammalian steroid synthesis.

Amphotericin B

A polyene antifungal antibiotic that binds to ergosterol in fungal cell membranes to form transmembrane pores, causing leakage of cellular contents and fungal cell death, with nephrotoxicity as its major long-term toxicity.

Liposomal Amphotericin B

An amphotericin B lipid formulation incorporated into biodegradable phospholipid liposomes that targets the reticuloendothelial system with reduced nephrotoxicity and fewer acute infusion reactions.

Fluconazole

A water-soluble triazole antifungal with good penetration into the CSF and minimal effect on mammalian steroid synthesis, widely used for candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis.

Griseofulvin

A heterocyclic benzofuran fungistatic drug active against dermatophytes that binds to microtubules to disrupt mitosis and deposits in newly formed keratin.

Terbinafine

An allylamine antifungal that non-competitively inhibits squalene epoxidase, blocking ergosterol synthesis and causing toxic intracellular accumulation of squalene.