The Two Approach To Management Of Viral Infection; HIV and Common Cold As Case Study
Microorganisms are everywhere. They are invisible to the naked eyes. Some are beneficial while few others are harmful to humans. The harmful ones make us sick. However, over the years scientist have come up with various medications to combat them. The most common is the bacterial infection. There are two bacterial agents. They are bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic. Bacteriocidal kill harmful bacteria within and outside the body. On the other hand, bacteriostatic inhibit the growth of bacterial. However, the benefits of some bacteriostatic agents are that it renders the bacterial weak thereby making it susceptible to the immune response of the body.
Another very important sets of microorganisms are the viruses. They cause some of the world's deadliest diseases. Viruses are a group of microorganisms that consist of a genome and sometimes few enzymes stored in a capsule made of protein (called capsid) and sometimes covered with a lipid layer (sometimes called an 'envelop'). Viruses cannot reproduce on their own and instead propagate by subjugating host cell to produce copies of themselves, thus producing the next generation. Retrovirus is another form of the virus made of only Ribonucleic acid (R.N.A) rather than deoxyribonucleic acid (D.N.A) as their genetic material.
Unfortunately, there is no known agent today that kills them or even render them static. The few antiviral agents available today only stop some process in their life cycle. This leaves the medical world on a journey for more advanced medications that can act as their antibacterial counterparts, kill or inhibit.
1. Each type of virus has a unique way of hijacking cells to infect. In the case of influenza, the virus shell contains proteins called hemoglutin which bind to the surface of healthy cells and trigger them to open up.
2. Once inside, the virus sheds its shell, and it's genes worm their way into the nucleus of the cell, hijacking the host to copy the viral genes instead of the cells own. In most cases, as virus genes are copied, they take the form of double-stranded RNA or dsRNA.
3. Certain proteins in the cell will sense the dsRNA and trigger the production of antiviral molecules called interferons. But some viruses (including some influenza strains) have evolved counterattacks against the interferon response.
4. Virus coordinate dozens of host proteins to become molecular machines, which them assemble new virus particles. Once each particle matures, it binds to the inner surface of the cell and opens a passageway out. It is now ready to infect a new cell.
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There are two approaches to the treatment or management of viral infection. The first is treating the disease with antivirals or antiretroviral agents. These agents attack one or more of the processes involved in the life cycle of the virus. On the other hand, management of symptoms is the mainstay treatment for many viral infections without antivirals. Let us take a look at both methods of management of viral infection using too very common viral infection, Human Immune Virus (H.I.V) and the common cold.
Attacking The Virus
HIV drugs target one aspect of the life cycle of the virus. It does not destroy it. To better understand it, let us look at;
1. Neuraminidase: These sets of drugs prevent newly produced viruses in the host cell (in this case CD⁴ cell) from budding out of the cell to infect others. It does not kill it. It is still alive and active. It will remain there until the resistance develops or the person stops taking the drug.
2. Protease: On the other hand prevent maturation of the virus. They cleave proteins of the virus which the virus uses to build components for infections HIV viron.
3. Protein-Based fusion inhibitors: They prevent the fusion of the viral membrane to the cell membrane, thus preventing the virus from interacting with the cell altogether. This keeps the virus in blood circulation and not able to infect cells.
4. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors: Prevent changing of the virus gene from one form to another inside the cell thereby keeping it in one place.
At this stage, the virus will be very weak because treatment of HIV requires multiple drugs. All the drugs attacked each stage of the life cycle. Luckily for us, the human immune system is stronger than that of the virus. How do I know this? When HIV infects the body, the body produces interferon to destroy them. They succeed in destroying majority. That is why after infection, there is a peak decline in viral load. But unfortunately, the rate of replication is far more than what the immune system can handle. Few of the virus hides in a place like a spleen where they multiply some time. By the time they come out to infect cells, the immune system will be overwhelming. This leaves the person to suffer from the disease.
With the drugs, the immune system bounces back to full strength. The number of white blood cells (CD⁴) increase. This gives the body enough warriors to fight back. They do succeed. In the end, the viral load will be so low that even test may not be able to detect it. At this stage, the blood has been cleared of the virus. Stopping antiretroviral agents are at this point will lead to a rebound. This is because there are places where the drugs cannot get to. It is believed that the virus hides in those places. And since the virus at this places is not weak, it becomes difficult for the immune system to kill these ones.
I know so many will be asking about drugs readily available for common drugs especially if you are not in the medical line. Yes, these drugs are not designed to fight the infection. They are designed to receive symptoms since this condition resolve after about some days on its own without medications. Treating symptoms somehow have some benefits. Here are some of the agents for treating the common cold.
Nasal decongestant and expectorants: These agents help to loosen the mucus in the airway. This makes it easy to expel some of the virus attached to the mucus.
Cough suppressant does receive cough reflex and sometimes dry out the mucus. This may make the environment uncomfortable for the virus if the mucous is part of their survival mechanisms. If it is the opposite, then it will favour them but there is no evidence of the benefits of the virus. It may not even have any effect on the virus but the benefits are that the sufferer is relieved of a cough.
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Anti-inflammatory drugs help to reduce airway inflammation thereby preventing discomfort.
The virus can be contracted through airborne. The virus cleaves to the epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract (U.R.T). This is because the URT temperature is lower than the rest of the body. The virus thrives in cold environment. Probably while this disease is very common in the rainy season. However, it has been found at the Lower respiratory tract (L.R.T). The symptoms associated with the common cold is believed to be an immune response from the body thereby preventing other virus and bacterial from coming it. Others are of the opinion that the virus produces mucous or sinuses to protect itself. However, experience has shown that preventing the symptoms does not increase or decrease the resistance of the virus. It normally runs its full course.
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Another very important sets of microorganisms are the viruses. They cause some of the world's deadliest diseases. Viruses are a group of microorganisms that consist of a genome and sometimes few enzymes stored in a capsule made of protein (called capsid) and sometimes covered with a lipid layer (sometimes called an 'envelop'). Viruses cannot reproduce on their own and instead propagate by subjugating host cell to produce copies of themselves, thus producing the next generation. Retrovirus is another form of the virus made of only Ribonucleic acid (R.N.A) rather than deoxyribonucleic acid (D.N.A) as their genetic material.
Unfortunately, there is no known agent today that kills them or even render them static. The few antiviral agents available today only stop some process in their life cycle. This leaves the medical world on a journey for more advanced medications that can act as their antibacterial counterparts, kill or inhibit.
Life Cycle Of A Virus
All virus replicate in essentially the same way. Here is a brief overview of their life cycle.1. Each type of virus has a unique way of hijacking cells to infect. In the case of influenza, the virus shell contains proteins called hemoglutin which bind to the surface of healthy cells and trigger them to open up.
2. Once inside, the virus sheds its shell, and it's genes worm their way into the nucleus of the cell, hijacking the host to copy the viral genes instead of the cells own. In most cases, as virus genes are copied, they take the form of double-stranded RNA or dsRNA.
3. Certain proteins in the cell will sense the dsRNA and trigger the production of antiviral molecules called interferons. But some viruses (including some influenza strains) have evolved counterattacks against the interferon response.
4. Virus coordinate dozens of host proteins to become molecular machines, which them assemble new virus particles. Once each particle matures, it binds to the inner surface of the cell and opens a passageway out. It is now ready to infect a new cell.
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| A virus |
There are two approaches to the treatment or management of viral infection. The first is treating the disease with antivirals or antiretroviral agents. These agents attack one or more of the processes involved in the life cycle of the virus. On the other hand, management of symptoms is the mainstay treatment for many viral infections without antivirals. Let us take a look at both methods of management of viral infection using too very common viral infection, Human Immune Virus (H.I.V) and the common cold.
Human Immune Virus (HIV) [Attacking The Virus]
Some years ago, treatment of HIV patients begins with the management of the symptoms until when the viral load is more than a thousand or the white blood cell was lower than 200 before antiretroviral agents can be considered. The management involves treating an opportunistic infection. However, today treatment is started immediately before the virus is detected. There is a question that most persons have asked me which I took up to answer. If the viral load was high before treatment was started, how come the viral load was reduced after taking the drugs and the drugs do not kill the virus but only prevent them from completing their life cycle? The question is long but lets me break it down. We said the antiretroviral agents do not destroy these viruses. Yet HIV victims viral load count drops sometimes within 6 months with antiretroviral therapy. If the antiretroviral agents are not responsible for the virus death, then what is responsible? Or where did the virus go to? To better understand this, we have to look at the various agents used in the management of HIV. This explanation also covers those antiviral agents for other viral infections.Attacking The Virus
HIV drugs target one aspect of the life cycle of the virus. It does not destroy it. To better understand it, let us look at;
1. Neuraminidase: These sets of drugs prevent newly produced viruses in the host cell (in this case CD⁴ cell) from budding out of the cell to infect others. It does not kill it. It is still alive and active. It will remain there until the resistance develops or the person stops taking the drug.
2. Protease: On the other hand prevent maturation of the virus. They cleave proteins of the virus which the virus uses to build components for infections HIV viron.
3. Protein-Based fusion inhibitors: They prevent the fusion of the viral membrane to the cell membrane, thus preventing the virus from interacting with the cell altogether. This keeps the virus in blood circulation and not able to infect cells.
4. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors: Prevent changing of the virus gene from one form to another inside the cell thereby keeping it in one place.
At this stage, the virus will be very weak because treatment of HIV requires multiple drugs. All the drugs attacked each stage of the life cycle. Luckily for us, the human immune system is stronger than that of the virus. How do I know this? When HIV infects the body, the body produces interferon to destroy them. They succeed in destroying majority. That is why after infection, there is a peak decline in viral load. But unfortunately, the rate of replication is far more than what the immune system can handle. Few of the virus hides in a place like a spleen where they multiply some time. By the time they come out to infect cells, the immune system will be overwhelming. This leaves the person to suffer from the disease.
With the drugs, the immune system bounces back to full strength. The number of white blood cells (CD⁴) increase. This gives the body enough warriors to fight back. They do succeed. In the end, the viral load will be so low that even test may not be able to detect it. At this stage, the blood has been cleared of the virus. Stopping antiretroviral agents are at this point will lead to a rebound. This is because there are places where the drugs cannot get to. It is believed that the virus hides in those places. And since the virus at this places is not weak, it becomes difficult for the immune system to kill these ones.
Common Cold
The common cold is caused by about 200 species of viruses. The most common species is the rhinovirus. Unfortunately, there are no known viral agents that acts on this virus. Fortunately, this virus can be handled by the body immune system. According to a source, the body developed resistance to any of the common cold virus species. But since there is about 200 causative virus, it is very possible to get an infection even at old age because it is not possible to have contracted all when young.I know so many will be asking about drugs readily available for common drugs especially if you are not in the medical line. Yes, these drugs are not designed to fight the infection. They are designed to receive symptoms since this condition resolve after about some days on its own without medications. Treating symptoms somehow have some benefits. Here are some of the agents for treating the common cold.
Nasal decongestant and expectorants: These agents help to loosen the mucus in the airway. This makes it easy to expel some of the virus attached to the mucus.
Cough suppressant does receive cough reflex and sometimes dry out the mucus. This may make the environment uncomfortable for the virus if the mucous is part of their survival mechanisms. If it is the opposite, then it will favour them but there is no evidence of the benefits of the virus. It may not even have any effect on the virus but the benefits are that the sufferer is relieved of a cough.
Read Also: How To Buy Health Products Online
Anti-inflammatory drugs help to reduce airway inflammation thereby preventing discomfort.
The virus can be contracted through airborne. The virus cleaves to the epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract (U.R.T). This is because the URT temperature is lower than the rest of the body. The virus thrives in cold environment. Probably while this disease is very common in the rainy season. However, it has been found at the Lower respiratory tract (L.R.T). The symptoms associated with the common cold is believed to be an immune response from the body thereby preventing other virus and bacterial from coming it. Others are of the opinion that the virus produces mucous or sinuses to protect itself. However, experience has shown that preventing the symptoms does not increase or decrease the resistance of the virus. It normally runs its full course.
Share On Social Media With Family And Friends To Show You Care!
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