Why is it difficult to find a target for selective toxicity against viruses?

Because fungi and protozoa are eukaryotic, their cells are very similar to human cells, making it more difficult to develop drugs with selective toxicity. Since viruses replicate within human host cells, it is difficult to develop drugs that are selectively toxic to viruses or virus-infected cells.

Why is it often more difficult to treat viruses than it is to treat bacterial infections quizlet?

Compared to other pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses are minuscule. And because they have none of the hallmarks of living things — a metabolism or the ability to reproduce on their own, for example — they are harder to target with drugs.

Why are there far fewer antiviral agents than there are antibacterial agents?

This is due to the fact that viruses are a lot simpler – both structurally (i.e. less physical parts to target) and functionally (in their replication cycle) than bacteria.

What are antiviral chemotherapeutic agents?

The term “antiviral chemotherapeutic agent,” as used here, will mean a substance other than a virus, a virus- containing vaccine, or specific antibody, which can produce either a protective or therapeutic effect to the clearly detectable advantage of the virus-infected host.

Which of the following is most effective against endospores?

Alcohols are widely used as antiseptics and disinfectants because they are effective against endospores as well as vegetative cells.

Why is it difficult to develop antifungal drugs?

Antifungal drugs are relatively difficult to develop compared to antibacterial drugs owing to the eukaryotic nature of the cells. Only a few classes of antifungal drugs, such as polyenes, azoles, echinocandins, allylamines, and flucytosine, are available to treat the myriad of fungal infections (Sanglard et al., 2009).

Why selective toxicity is an important feature of antibiotics?

Antibiotics must have Selective Toxicity for the Microbe The reason for this is that only compounds with selective toxicity can be used clinically. The selective toxicity of antibiotics means that they must be highly effective against the microbe but have minimal or no toxicity to humans.

Why is it more difficult to treat viral infections than it is to treat bacterial infections Why is it more difficult to treat viral infections than it is to treat bacterial infections?

But the treatment of viral infections has proved more challenging, primarily because viruses are relatively tiny and reproduce inside cells. For some viral diseases, such as herpes simplex virus infections, HIV/AIDS, and influenza, antiviral medications have become available.

Why is it more difficult to design antiviral drugs than antibacterial drugs?

New antiviral drugs are also in short supply. These medicines have been much more difficult to develop than antibacterial drugs because antivirals can damage host cells where the viruses reside.