| Abstract | Iako su virusi važan dio ljudskog mikrobioma i cjelokupnog ekosustava, najpoznatiji su kao uzročnici bolesti. Stoga su razvijeni antivirusni lijekovi, odnosno supstance koje uz postojeća cjepiva kontroliraju bolesti uzrokovane virusima. Upotreba antivirusnih lijekova dopuštena je za infekcije uzrokovane varicella-zoster virusom, humanim citomegalovirusom, virusom ljudske imunodeficijencije, humanim papiloma virusom, respiratornim sincicijskim virusom, herpes simplex virusom, virusom hepatitisa B i C te virusom influence. Antivirusni lijekovi djeluju direktno na viruse ili inhibiraju stanične komponente koje su neophodne za životni ciklus virusa, primjerice ulazak virusa u stanice, odmotavanje i replikaciju virusa, djelovanje integraza i proteaza ili izlazak virusa iz stanice. Antivirusna rezistencija koja nastaje zbog učestalih mutacija virusnog genoma koje mijenjaju ciljne strukture lijekova, sve je veći klinički problem. Kombinirana terapija od dva ili više lijekova pokazuje dobre rezultate u sprječavanju razvitka rezistencije virusa na lijekove. Ubrzani razvoj znanosti i tehnologije pridonosi otkriću novih antivirusnih lijekova te novih mehanizama njihova djelovanja pa antivirusni lijekovi uz cijepljenje predstavljaju moćan alat za borbu protiv virusnih infekcija i potencijalnih virusnih pandemija. |
| Abstract (english) | Although viruses are an important component of the human microbiome and the entire ecosystem, they are known primarily as causative agents of disease. Therefore, antiviral drugs have been developed as substances that fight diseases caused by viruses in addition to existing vaccines. Antiviral drugs may be used for infections caused by varicella-zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, human papillomavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B and C virus, and influenza virus. Antiviral drugs act directly on viruses or inhibit cellular components necessary for the virus life cycle, such as virus entry into the cell, virus unfolding and replication, integrase and protease activity, or virus exit from the cell. Antiviral resistance, which results from common mutations in the viral genome that alter drug targets, is a growing clinical problem. Combination therapy of two or more drugs shows good results in preventing the development of viral resistance to drugs. Rapid development of science and technology is contributing to the discovery of new antiviral drugs and new mechanisms of action, making antiviral drugs, together with vaccination, an effective tool to combat viral infections and potential viral pandemics. |
