25 - nishi

[ArchivalUser]

A 2-year-old child with a high fever, non-productive cough, and extreme irritability is brought to the pediatrician™s office by his mother. On examination, there is a clear discharge from the nares and the throat and tonsils are inflamed. Chest x-ray demonstrates bilateral diffuse interstitial infiltrates. A fluorescent antibody test of nasopharyngeal secretions is positive for influenza virus. Due to the severity of the symptoms, the child is treated with zanamivir inhalant, an enzyme inhibitor of neuraminidase. What is the goal of such therapy?
A. To inhibit transcription into mRNA
B. To inhibit viral maturation
C. To inhibit viral polymerase activity
D. To inhibit virus uncoating
E. To inhibit virus-cell attachment

[ArchivalUser]

C?/?

[ArchivalUser]

answer is B. Neuraminidase is the enzyme produced by the virus that clips off sialic acid and aids in the release (maturation) of the virus. If the neuraminidase is inactivated, the hemagglutinin of the virus binds to the sialic acid residues on other virus particles and causes them to clump, thereby preventing release.