Which class of drugs would be effective against HIV but not against most other pathogenic viruses?

Question

A.  Nucleotide analogs that halt replication.
B.  Receptor antagonists that block viral entry.
C.  Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that block reverse transcription.
D.  Translation inhibitors that stop assembly of viral proteins.

Clarify Question
  · What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about HIV replication?

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

  Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

C.  Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that block reverse transcription.

Clarify Question
  · What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses HIV replication.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about HIV replication?
        o Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the agent that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is a retrovirus.
        o Retroviruses have an RNA genome that is reverse-transcribed into DNA by the enzyme reverse transcriptase. The DNA fragments produced by reverse transcription are often integrated into a host’s chromosomal DNA.

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Would most viruses be affected by nucleotide analogs that halt replication? Yes, because all viruses use nucleotides in their RNA or DNA genome.
        o Would most viruses be affected by receptor antagonists that block viral entry? Yes, because viruses often take advantage of cell receptors to enter the cell.
        o Would most viruses be affected by translation inhibitors that stop assembly of viral proteins? Yes, because all viruses (although not viroids) use proteins in their capsid.
        o Would most viruses be affected by non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that block reverse transcription? No. Most viruses don’t use reverse transcriptase. Only retroviruses like HIV use reverse transcriptase, so it would be affected but mist other viruses would not be.

  Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
        o Did you recognize that unlike most viruses, HIV relies on a reverse transcriptase enzyme?