Antiviral Drugs: Types, Mechanisms, and Clinical Uses

Question 1

Which class of antiviral drugs inhibits viral replication by binding to and inhibiting the viral DNA polymerase?

Accepted Answer

Nucleoside analogues

Answer

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)

Answer

Protease inhibitors

Answer

Neuraminidase inhibitors

Question 2

Which antiviral drug is primarily used to treat HIV?

Accepted Answer

Zidovudine

Answer

Acyclovir

Answer

Amantadine

Answer

Oseltamivir

Question 3

What is the primary target of neuraminidase inhibitors in influenza virus?

Accepted Answer

Viral neuraminidase

Answer

Viral capsid

Answer

Viral glycoproteins

Answer

Viral polymerase

Question 4

Which of the following is a potential adverse effect of acyclovir?

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of kidney stones

Answer

Nausea and vomiting

Answer

Hepatotoxicity

Answer

Peripheral neuropathy

Question 5

What is the primary mechanism of action of protease inhibitors in HIV treatment?

Accepted Answer

Cleaving viral proteins necessary for replication

Answer

Inhibiting viral attachment to host cells

Answer

Preventing viral RNA replication

Answer

Stimulating the immune system to attack the virus

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a potential drug interaction with ritonavir?

Accepted Answer

All of the above are potential interactions

Answer

Increased levels of statins

Answer

Increased levels of methadone

Answer

Decreased levels of warfarin

Question 7

How do broad-spectrum antiviral agents, like ribavirin, achieve their effectiveness against a wide range of viruses?

Accepted Answer

They disrupt viral replication processes.

Answer

They block viruses from entering host cells.

Answer

They enhance the host's immune system.

Answer

They directly eliminate infected cells.

Question 8

Which class of antiviral drugs prevents viral entry into host cells by inhibiting a key viral protein?

Accepted Answer

Fusion Inhibitors

Answer

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

Answer

Protease Inhibitors

Answer

Neuraminidase Inhibitors

Question 9

When selecting an appropriate antiviral drug for a patient, which of the following factors is generally NOT considered?

Accepted Answer

Cost of the drug

Answer

Viral load

Answer

Patient's immune status

Answer

Type of virus causing the infection

Question 10

Which virus is known for having the highest mutation rate?

Accepted Answer

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Answer

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Answer

Seasonal Influenza Virus

Answer

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of action of antiviral drugs?

Accepted Answer

Inducing viral latency

Answer

Preventing viral entry into host cells

Answer

Inhibiting viral genome replication

Answer

Stimulating the host immune response

Question 12

Which class of antiviral drugs specifically targets the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase?

Accepted Answer

Nucleoside analogs

Answer

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Answer

Protease inhibitors

Answer

Neuraminidase inhibitors

Question 13

What is the primary target of neuraminidase inhibitors in antiviral therapy?

Accepted Answer

Viral envelope glycoproteins

Answer

Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Answer

Viral capsid

Answer

Viral protease

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a potential adverse consequence of antiviral drug use?

Accepted Answer

Improved quality of life for patients

Answer

Viral mutagenesis

Answer

Suppression of host immune responses

Answer

Increased risk of bacterial infections

Question 15

What is the main mode of action of protease inhibitors in antiviral therapy?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of viral genome replication

Answer

Prevention of viral attachment to host cells

Answer

Enhancement of immune responses

Answer

Reduction of viral shedding

Question 16

Which statement accurately describes the role of the immune response in combating viral infections?

Accepted Answer

Antibodies produced by the adaptive immune response can neutralize viruses and facilitate their destruction by immune cells.

Answer

The innate immune response alone is sufficient for controlling viral infections.

Answer

Antiviral therapies targeting the adaptive immune response are consistently more effective than those targeting the innate immune response.

Answer

The immune response is not necessary for recovery from viral infections.

Question 17

Which of the following is the primary target of acyclovir?

Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase

Answer

RNA polymerase

Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Answer

Protease

Question 18

Which class of antiviral drugs specifically targets the uncoating of viral particles?

Accepted Answer

Entry inhibitors

Answer

Nucleoside analogues

Answer

Protease inhibitors

Answer

Neuraminidase inhibitors

Question 19

Which of the following is a common adverse effect associated with lamivudine?

Accepted Answer

Nausea

Answer

Hepatotoxicity

Answer

Myelosuppression

Answer

Nephrotoxicity

Question 20

Which of the following viruses is NOT a target of oseltamivir?

Accepted Answer

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Answer

Influenza A

Answer

Influenza B

Answer

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Question 21

What is the major mechanism by which viruses develop resistance to nucleoside analogues?

Accepted Answer

Mutations in the viral polymerase

Answer

Increased expression of drug efflux pumps

Answer

Inactivation of the drug by viral enzymes

Answer

Alterations in the cellular metabolism of the drug

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a typical mechanism of action for antiviral drugs?

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting host protein synthesis

Answer

Inhibiting viral uncoating

Answer

Inhibiting viral replication

Answer

Inhibiting viral attachment to host cells

Question 23

Which class of antiviral drugs specifically targets viral DNA polymerases?

Accepted Answer

Nucleoside analogues

Answer

Protease inhibitors

Answer

Neuraminidase inhibitors

Answer

HIV integrase inhibitors

Question 24

What is a significant limitation of acyclovir's use?

Accepted Answer

Acyclovir requires activation by viral thymidine kinase

Answer

Acyclovir exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity

Answer

Acyclovir has high oral bioavailability

Question 25

Which antiviral drug class is effective against enveloped RNA viruses?

Accepted Answer

Fusion inhibitors (e.g., Enfuvirtide)

Answer

Lamivudine

Answer

Valacyclovir

Answer

Acyclovir

Question 26

Which antiviral drug is a prodrug of acyclovir?

Accepted Answer

Valacyclovir

Answer

Ganciclovir

Answer

Foscarnet

Answer

Ribavirin

Question 27

What is the primary target of the antiviral drug oseltamivir?

Accepted Answer

Neuraminidase

Answer

Viral envelope

Answer

Viral polymerase

Answer

HIV protease

Question 28

Which antiviral drug is specifically indicated for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections?

Accepted Answer

Ganciclovir

Answer

Enfuvirtide

Answer

Valacyclovir

Answer

Acyclovir

Question 29

What is a significant challenge in the development of effective antiviral drugs?

Accepted Answer

The rapid evolution of viruses

Answer

High production costs

Answer

Poor patient adherence to treatment

Answer

Lack of suitable animal models