Antiviral Agents and Resistance: A Comprehensive Guide for Medical Students

Question 1

Identify the mechanism of action NOT employed by antiviral agents:

Accepted Answer

Enhancement of the immune response

Answer

Inhibition of viral attachment

Answer

Inhibition of viral replication

Answer

Inhibition of viral assembly

Question 2

Which class of antiviral agents specifically targets the viral polymerase enzyme?

Accepted Answer

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)

Answer

Protease inhibitors

Answer

Neuraminidase inhibitors

Answer

Entry inhibitors

Question 3

In the treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, which antiviral agent is typically utilized?

Accepted Answer

Acyclovir

Answer

Foscarnet

Answer

Oseltamivir

Answer

Zidovudine

Question 4

Which enzyme is the specific target of neuraminidase inhibitors?

Accepted Answer

Neuraminidase

Answer

Viral polymerase

Answer

Viral protease

Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Question 5

Among the antiviral agents, which one is characterized as a pyrophosphate analogue?

Accepted Answer

Foscarnet

Answer

Acyclovir

Answer

Oseltamivir

Answer

Zidovudine

Question 6

In antiviral therapy, which of the following is an example of a prodrug?

Accepted Answer

Valacyclovir

Answer

Acyclovir

Answer

Foscarnet

Answer

Zidovudine

Question 7

Select the DNA polymerase inhibitor among the following antiviral agents:

Accepted Answer

Zidovudine

Answer

Acyclovir

Answer

Oseltamivir

Answer

Ribavirin

Question 8

Which of the following is the most common adverse effect of acyclovir?

Accepted Answer

Nausea

Answer

Vomiting

Answer

Hepatotoxicity

Answer

Myelosuppression

Question 9

Which drug is recommended as the first-line treatment for herpes zoster in immunocompetent patients?

Accepted Answer

Aciclovir

Answer

Valacyclovir

Answer

Famciclovir

Answer

Foscarnet

Question 10

Which type of viral mutation can lead to resistance to nucleoside analogue antiviral drugs?

Accepted Answer

Mutations in the viral polymerase enzyme

Answer

Mutations in the viral envelope proteins

Answer

Mutations in the viral reverse transcriptase enzyme

Answer

Mutations in the viral capsid proteins

Question 11

Which characteristic is unique to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV infection?

Accepted Answer

Combination of drugs targeting multiple stages of the viral life cycle

Answer

Intermittent dosing regimen

Answer

Prevention of viral transmission

Answer

Cure for HIV infection

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a potential adverse effect of antiviral agents?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced immune function

Answer

Liver damage

Answer

Kidney damage

Answer

Nerve damage

Question 13

Which statement accurately describes antiviral prophylaxis?

Accepted Answer

Used to prevent viral infections in high-risk individuals

Answer

Typically involves long-term antiviral administration

Answer

More effective than antiviral therapy in all cases

Answer

Rarely employed in clinical practice

Question 14

Acyclovir is an antiviral agent. What is its target, and how does it exert its antiviral effect?

Accepted Answer

Viral DNA polymerase; inhibits viral DNA synthesis

Answer

Viral RNA polymerase; inhibits viral RNA synthesis

Answer

Viral capsid; prevents viral entry into host cells

Answer

Viral envelope; prevents viral fusion with host cell membrane

Question 15

Which mechanism of action underlies the antiviral effects of acyclovir?

Accepted Answer

Competitive inhibition of viral DNA polymerase

Answer

Stimulation of host immune response

Answer

Disruption of viral capsid assembly

Answer

Interference with viral attachment and entry

Question 16

Identify the antiviral agent that belongs to the nucleoside analogue class:

Accepted Answer

Zidovudine

Answer

Amantadine

Answer

Oseltamivir

Answer

Ribavirin

Question 17

What is the predominant mechanism of antiviral resistance to various antiviral agents?

Accepted Answer

Mutations in target enzyme or protein

Answer

Increased activity of drug efflux pumps

Answer

Reduced drug uptake into host cells

Answer

Activation of alternative metabolic pathways

Question 18

Which virus is not a target for neuraminidase inhibitors, a class of antiviral agents?

Accepted Answer

Herpes simplex virus

Answer

Influenza A virus

Answer

Influenza B virus

Answer

Respiratory syncytial virus

Question 19

What is the primary route of drug administration for oseltamivir, an antiviral agent?

Accepted Answer

Oral

Answer

Intramuscular

Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Topical

Question 20

Identify the primary molecular target of HIV-1 protease inhibitors:

Accepted Answer

Viral protease enzyme

Answer

Viral envelope proteins

Answer

Viral integrase enzyme

Answer

Viral reverse transcriptase enzyme

Question 21

Neuraminidase inhibitors, like oseltamivir, primarily target which viral component of the influenza virus?

Accepted Answer

Viral neuraminidase

Answer

Viral polymerase

Answer

Viral protease

Answer

Viral envelope

Question 22

A major concern associated with the use of protease inhibitors in HIV treatment is:

Accepted Answer

Development of drug resistance

Answer

Limited duration of action

Answer

Severe side effects

Answer

Low efficacy

Question 23

What is the primary function of the viral polymerase in the context of antiviral therapy?

Accepted Answer

Replication of viral genetic material (RNA or DNA)

Answer

Assembly of new viral particles

Answer

Attachment to host cells

Answer

Release of new viral particles

Question 24

Which of the following antiviral agents is considered broad-spectrum?

Accepted Answer

Ribavirin

Answer

Valacyclovir

Answer

Maraviroc

Answer

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

Question 25

A crucial strategy to prevent the emergence of antiviral resistance is:

Accepted Answer

Combination therapy with multiple antiviral agents

Answer

Empiric use of broad-spectrum agents

Answer

Monotherapy with high doses

Answer

Prolonged duration of treatment