Viruses importance

Why are viruses important Viruses are known to cause many diseases, and they may be very specific to a particular species and cell type. Viruses enter the cell by binding to specific receptors on the cell. Once inside the cell, the virus may replicate, form new viruses, and burst the cell. The virus may also hide its DNA by incorporating it into the host s DNA. Viruses have been linked to cancer, and they can be used as delivery agents in gene therapy. The most infamous virus these days is HIV, which causes AIDS. 

The author dedicates his discussions in the text on, and references to, oncolytic viruses, in this article, to the memory of his medical school friend Laszlo K. Csatdry, who devoted the last decades of his professional life for the treatment of patients with incurable cancers ( unconventionally , as the need dictated) with inoculations of a British isolate of an attenuated Newcastle Disease Virus, imported to Hungary, which he renamed MTH ( More than Hope , without revealing its real origin). This virus was professionally purified and concentrated for him in preparation for clinical use in Budapest, Hungary (it was not licensed in the USA) (Ref. [71]). 

Ozone has long been used on a small scale for water purification since it destroys viruses, and recent developments suggest that this use will increase in importance. 

We have already discussed one envelope protein of influenza virus, neuraminidase, as an example of an up-and-down antiparallel p motif. In the second envelope protein, hemagglutinin, one domain of the polypeptide chain is folded into a jelly roll motif. We shall now look at some other features of hemagglutinin that are important for its biological function. 

Ozone has proven to be effeetive against viruses. Franee has adopted a standard for the use of ozone to inaetivate viruses. When an ozone residual of 0.4 mg/I ean be measured 4 minutes after the initial ozone demand has been met, viral inaetivation is satisfied. This property plus ozone s freedom from residual formation are important eonsiderations in the publie health aspects of ozonation. When ozonation is eombined with aetivated earbon filtration, a high degree of organie removal ean be aehieved. Coneerning the toxieity of oxidation produets of ozone and the removal of speeifie eompounds via ozonation, available evidenee does not indieate any major health hazards assoeiated with the use of ozone in wastewater treatment. 

In this type of reaction an antigen elicits the generation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes ( immune defense). Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (Tc) destroy antigen bearing cells by inducing apoptosis. This reaction can be viewed as the cellular counterpart to the humoral Type II reactions. They play an important physiological role in the defense of viruses, and can become allergic reactions under the same conditions as described for Type II reactions. 

Viruses are small infectious agents composed of a nucleic acid genome (DNA or RNA) encased by structural proteins and in some cases a lipid envelope. They are the causative agents of a number of human infectious diseases, the most important for public health today being acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis, influenza, measles, and vituses causing diarrhoea (e.g., rotavirus). In addition, certain viruses contribute to the development of cancer. Antiviral drugs inhibit viral replication by specifically targeting viral enzymes or functions and are used to treat specific virus-associated diseases. 

An important safety issue of viral vectors is whether or not the recombinant viruses are able to replicate in the infected cells. Replication of viral vectors is unwanted in most gene-therapy approaches. Therefore, replication-defective vectors have been designed, which are able to perform only one initial infectious cycle within the target cell. In addition, replication-competent vectors have been designed, which are able to productively infect the target cell and to spread in the target tissue. 

Interferons (EFNs) are a family of multifunctional secreted proteins in vertebrates. Their most prominent functions are their antiviral properties on homologous cells against a wide range of viruses. It is important to note that prior exposure to EFN is required to render cells resistant to viral infection and replication. In contrast to antibodies, EFNs have no direct neutralizing effect on viruses. 

Neuraminidase inhibitors are the major class of drugs to treat or to prevent the infection with influenza viruses. Currently, two neuraminidase inhibitors are available, zanamivir and oseltamivir, which block the release of new influenza vims from infected host cells and thereby stop the spread of infection. The enzyme neuraminidase is a surface glycoprotein present on all influenza viruses. There are nine influenza neuraminidase sub-types known of which subtypes N1 and N2 appear to be the most important ones. Neuraminidase inhibitors are effective against all neuraminidase subtypes. The activity of the neuraminidase is required for the newly... 

HSV2 (herpes simplex virus 2), which causes significant morbidity and is an important cofactor for the transmission of HIV infection was recently targeted in a mouse model by local application of siRNA mixed with lipids. The results suggested that siRNA could work as active components of microbicides to prevent viral infection or transmission [2]. 

AMANTADINE The nurse administers this drug for the prevention or treatment of respiratory tract illness caused by influenza A virus. Some patients are prescribed this drug to manage extrapyramidal effects caused by drugp used to treat Parkinsonism (See Chaps. 29 and 32). The nurse should protect the capsules from moisture to prevent deterioration. When the drug is administered for symptoms of influenza, it is important to start therapy within 24 to 48 hours after symptoms begin. 

Fig. 1 Classification of viruses by their genome replication strategy according to Baltimore (Baltimore 1971), Examples for important human pathogens falling into the respective class are listed above, Black DNA, gray RNA arrows to the right (+) strand polarity (i,e, corresponding to mRNA) arrows to the left (—(strands asterisk enveloped viruses...

However, acyclic nucleotide analogs (acyclic nucleoside phosphonates) have been developed, which carry one phosphonate moiety and require only the two subsequent phosphorylation steps (De Clercq et al. 1978). Independent of virus-encoded kinases, they display a broader spectrum of efficacy. This class comprises important drugs against HIV (tenofovir) and HBV (adefovir, tenofovir), as well as cidofovir, which is approved for use against CMV retinitis, but also displays an exceptionally broad efficacy profile against many herpesviruses, adenovirus, poxviruses, and papillomaviruses (De Clercq and Holy 2005). 

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