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Hello there!
Antiviral drugs are usually made to act as inhibitors by interacting with one or some of the crucial viral proteins like its polymerase and spike proteins, for instance.
Some antivirals pretend to look like the target substrate for a particular viral protein and when bound or interacting in some way (Example: acyclovir in a herpes infection), they can halt the entire virus replication and the whole thing goes kaput. No more viruses, for now.
Scientists do feel that they need to target different stages of the virus life cycle to give a slim chance for the virus to mutate and make nastier mutants.
Hope this answer has helped you! 😄
Viral_TDM
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThey inhibit the virus's ability to multiply inside living cells.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoTheir mechanism of action is typically to inactivate the enzymes needed for viral replication. This will reduce the rate of viral growth, but will not inactive the virus already present.
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What are types of a new antiviral drug?
As of August 2013, there appears to be new antiviral drugs in the fight against Hepatitus B. According to other reports, there is a potiential antiviral medication that will be able to cure most viruses.
What is an antivirous?
Just like antibiotics get rid of bacterial infections, antiviral drugs fight against dangerous viruses. A recent example of antiviral drugs is Tamiflu which is used to battle the Swine Flu. For more information, see the below related link.
What is an antiviral drug?
An antiviral drug is a medication used to treat viral infections by either inhibiting the virus from replicating in the body or boosting the body’s immune response to fight off the virus. These drugs are specific to certain viruses and can help reduce symptoms, shorten the duration of the illness, and prevent complications.
How antiviral drugs work?
The drug gives the patient a weakened form of the virus. The body's immune system 'learns' what the virus is and produces anti-bodies to fight the infection. The anti-bodies remain in the patient's bloodstream - ready to fight the full-blown disease, should they catch it in later life.
Why is it easier to make drugs that fight bacteria than viruses?
Viruses are constantly mutating which is why flu shots not always successful as they must predict which way the virus is going to evolve.
What are antibiotics and what are they used for?
Antibiotics are medicines that cure infections. They have no effect on viruses.
How do you fight zoster?
Use of antiviral creams, such as acyclovir, valtrex, and famvir can be used to fight the outbreak.
Why can't drugs treat viral infections?
Drugs can treat viral infections, just not the same way as other infections. With other infections--let's say bacterial--the bacteria attacks and kills cells. Drugs fight them by killing the bacteria. Viruses enter into the cells they attack. They then hijack the cell and turn them into factories for producing more viruses. Drugs can't just go in and attack the cells they're merged into, because the drugs would hit the healthy original cells, too. Drugs that fight viruses focus on interrupted the process of taking over the cell at some stage. Needless to say, this is very difficult, so much so that it's easier to treat the symptoms of some diseases and leave the immune system to fight the virus. Many many viruses don't even have drugs developed to fight them, because we can't figure out how to beat them. It's just that hard. Vaccines are much easier to make and have the advantage of being proactive and disadvantage of being completely useless after you're infected. Viruses are tricky business.
What antiviral vaccine is able to fight HIV?
There is no vaccine for HIV at this time.
Can a viruses be cured using antibiotics?
Yes. But only by antiviral antibiotics, not antibacterial or antifungal or antiprotozoal antibiotics. Most antibiotics are antibacterial: such as penicillin, sulfa, cipro, rocephin, etc. The Herpes Simplex virus is a virus that can be attacked by an antibiotic, such as acyclovir. Just as with antibacterial antibiotics, antiviral antibiotics will become less effective over time as the viruses mutate to become more resistant. Therefore, these antibiotics should be used as judiciously as the other types of antibiotics.
What does the body make to fight viruses?
Body has got immune system. This immune system or the body immunity forms the antibodies to fight the viruses. The immunity against the viruses is usually life long.
How some viruses are helpful?
- some viruses can be used in biological weapons- some viruses are used in the fight against pests
