ANTIVIRAL DRUGS

Rather than treating bacterial infections, antiviral medications are used to treat viral infections. [1] While broad-spectrum antivirals are effective against a variety of viruses, the majority of antivirals are used to treat specific viral illnesses.

Antiviral medications, in contrast to most antibiotics, suppress the growth of their target pathogen

Antiviral medications, in contrast to most antibiotics, suppress the growth of their target pathogen

Classification (4.2)

Antiviral medications are a subset of the broader category of antimicrobials, which also includes antibiotics (also known as antibacterial), antifungal, and antiparasitic medications,[3] or antiviral medications based on monoclonal antibodies.
[4]
Since the majority of antivirals are thought to be somewhat safe for the host, they can be used to treat infections. It is important to separate them from viricides, which aren't medications but instead deactivate or kill virus particles either inside the body or outside it. Some plants, including eucalyptus, produce natural antivirals.

14.3 The cycle of a virus

Viruses are made up of a genome and, occasionally, a few enzymes that are housed in a protein capsule called a capsid that is also occasionally wrapped in a lipid coating known as an envelope. Since viruses are unable to reproduce on their own, they spread by controlling a host cell to make copies of themselves, so creating the following generation.

Researchers trying to create antivirals using such "rational drug design" techniques have attempted to combat viruses at every stage of their life cycles. It has been discovered that some types of mushrooms contain several antiviral compounds that work together similarly.

The specifics of viral life cycles vary based on the type of virus, but they all follow the same fundamental pattern:

14.4 The action's mechanism

affixing to the host cell.viral genes and potentially enzymes are released into the host cell.

viral components are replicated using the machinery of the host cell.

assembly of individual viral particles from their component parts.

Virus particles are released to infect new host cells.

Rather than treating bacterial infections, antiviral medications are used to treat viral infections. A broad-spectrum antiviral is effective against a variety of viruses, in contrast to the majority of antivirals, which are used to treat specific viral infections.