Acyclovir Is Selective and Low in Toxicity, Causing Little Harm

question 16

Multiple Choice

Acyclovir is selective and low in toxicity, causing little harm to uninfected cells, because

• A) only a virally encoded enzyme can convert the medication into its active form (from nucleoside analog to nucleotide analog). 
• B) only a virally encoded enzyme can convert the medication into its active form (from nucleotide analog to nucleoside analog). 
• C) viral DNA is structurally very different from cellular DNA.
• D) host cells have the ability to repair the damage caused by nucleotide analogs.
• E) host cells have an enzyme that prevents the conversion of the medication into its active form.

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Definitions:

N-acetylaspartate (NAA)

A compound found in neurons, considered a marker for neuronal health and integrity often used in brain spectroscopy studies.

Contrecoup Injury

A contrecoup injury is a type of brain injury that occurs on the side opposite the impact, caused by the brain striking the skull following a forceful blow or shock to the head.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A form of acquired brain injury occurring when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain, which can lead to a wide range of functional short or long-term changes affecting thinking, sensation, language, or emotions.

Site of Impact

The site of impact refers to the specific location or point where something, such as a physical force or a biological influence, directly affects or collides with an object or organism.