Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Introduction: definition and classification of the human herpesviruses
- Part II Basic virology and viral gene effects on host cell functions: alphaherpesviruses
- Part II Basic virology and viral gene effects on host cell functions: betaherpesviruses
- Part II Basic virology and viral gene effects on host cell functions: gammaherpesviruses
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: HSV-1 and HSV-2
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: VZU
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: HCMV
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: HHV- 6A, 6B, and 7
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: gammaherpesviruses
- Part IV Non-human primate herpesviruses
- Part V Subversion of adaptive immunity
- Part VI Antiviral therapy
- 64 Antiviral therapy of HSV-1 and -2
- 65 Antiviral therapy of varicella-zoster virus infections
- 66 Antiviral therapy for human cytomegalovirus
- 67 New approaches to antiviral drug discovery (genomics/proteomics)
- 68 Candidate anti-herpesviral drugs; mechanisms of action and resistance
- Part VII Vaccines and immunothgerapy
- Part VIII Herpes as therapeutic agents
- Index
- Plate section
- References
66 - Antiviral therapy for human cytomegalovirus
from Part VI - Antiviral therapy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Introduction: definition and classification of the human herpesviruses
- Part II Basic virology and viral gene effects on host cell functions: alphaherpesviruses
- Part II Basic virology and viral gene effects on host cell functions: betaherpesviruses
- Part II Basic virology and viral gene effects on host cell functions: gammaherpesviruses
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: HSV-1 and HSV-2
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: VZU
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: HCMV
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: HHV- 6A, 6B, and 7
- Part III Pathogenesis, clinical disease, host response, and epidemiology: gammaherpesviruses
- Part IV Non-human primate herpesviruses
- Part V Subversion of adaptive immunity
- Part VI Antiviral therapy
- 64 Antiviral therapy of HSV-1 and -2
- 65 Antiviral therapy of varicella-zoster virus infections
- 66 Antiviral therapy for human cytomegalovirus
- 67 New approaches to antiviral drug discovery (genomics/proteomics)
- 68 Candidate anti-herpesviral drugs; mechanisms of action and resistance
- Part VII Vaccines and immunothgerapy
- Part VIII Herpes as therapeutic agents
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Introduction
The remit of this chapter is to summarize what is known about licensed antiviral drugs for CMV. In summary, we do not possess a single anti-CMV drug, which is potent and safe enough to be given to all individuals infected with this virus. What follows therefore, is the evidence-base for prescribing the existing compounds with the objective of maximizing therapeutic efficacy and cost-effectiveness while minimizing toxicity.
Licensed drugs and mechanism of action
Nucleosides
Ganciclovir (GCV) and acyclovir (ACV) are related nucleosides (see Fig. 66.1) which are anabolized by a common cellular pathway. After activation, they are competitive inhibitors of CMV encoded DNA polymerase. In cells infected with CMV, the first stage of phosphorylation is achieved by the UL97 protein kinase. Once GCV is mono-phosphorylated within the virus-infected cell, it is charged and so unable to diffuse out of the cell. A concentration gradient is thereby formed across the plasma membrane, aiding diffusion of more GCV into the infected cell. Cellular enzymes convert GCV monophosphate to the triphosphate. GCV triphosphate is a potent inhibitor of CMV DNA polymerase and has a long intracellular half-life. Selectivity for virus-infected cells is achieved both by UL97 activation and because GCV triphosphate is a better inhibitor of CMV-encoded DNA polymerase than cellular DNA polymerase.
Ganciclovir possesses a free hydroxyl at a position equivalent to the 3' of the open sugar ring and so can allow DNA elongation.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Human HerpesvirusesBiology, Therapy, and Immunoprophylaxis, pp. 1192 - 1210Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007
References
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