Sample interview questions: What are the challenges associated with developing effective antiparasitic drugs?
Sample answer:
Challenges in Developing Effective Antiparasitic Drugs:
- Drug Resistance: Parasites rapidly develop resistance to existing drugs due to their high mutation rates and complex life cycles.
- Polyparasitism: Many parasitic infections involve multiple parasite species, requiring drugs that target different targets or have a broad spectrum of activity.
- Host Toxicity: Antiparasitic drugs often exhibit toxic side effects in humans due to similarities in host and parasite biochemistry.
- Limited Understanding of Parasite Biology: The complex biology and genetic diversity of parasites pose challenges in identifying new drug targets and predicting drug resistance mechanisms.
- Lack of Animal Models: Suitable animal models for testing antiparasitic drugs are often lacking or poorly characterized, leading to uncertainties in drug efficacy and safety.