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A viral protein is a safe drug target only if it has which property?
APresent in every human cell at high level
BShared by the virus and the host ribosome
CFound only in the bacterial cell envelope
DEncoded by viral genes and absent in the host
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Encoded by viral genes and absent in the host
1. An antiviral drug works by blocking the action of one or more viral proteins.
2. The targeted protein must be encoded by viral genes.
3. It must also be absent from a healthy host cell.
4. Only then is viral growth inhibited without damaging the host.
5. AZT is the classic case, since reverse transcriptase is made only from viral genes inside infected cells.
6. A protein present in every human cell would make the drug toxic, so that option is exactly the wrong criterion.
7. Bacterial envelope proteins are the targets of antibacterial drugs, not of antivirals.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 21 "Viruses", section 21.3 Prevention and Treatment of Viral Infections_
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