HOW ARVs FUNCTION

It works by targeting HIV at different phases in its life cycle
Cell fusion; prevent virus from entering human cell.
Reverse transcription; prevents copying of viral RNA and DNA, which blocks the virus from integrating with the human cells

-The microbicide product IPM is developing and it does this in a variety of ways.

Blocking virus from entering the cell
-The first step of HIV infection cycle, where HIV attaches to and enters the human cell, can be blocked with a compound known as entry or fusion inhibitors.
-CCR5 blocker such as maraviroc as well as CXCR4 blockers are examples of ARV drugs which work by blocking cells receptor and prevent HIV from attaching to the host cell, interrupting the HIV life cycle in its earliest stages.
-GP120 inhibitors such as DS003 bind to the GP120 proteins. HIV need to attach to healthy cells like CCR5 and CXCR4 blockers, GP120 inhibitor prevent the virus attaching and entry to healthy cells.
-GP41 inhibitor can also interfere with these first steps by blocking the viral GP41 protein and therefore the ability of HIV to fuse with human immune cells.

Blocking replication of the virus
Once HIV has entered the cell, the virus continues the process to reproduce itself. Early phase, viral RNA is copied into DNA using an enzyme called reverse transcriptase.
-The viral DNA copy would then integrate into the host .
-Various ARV drugs are known to block reverse transcription, interrupting that process.
-Reverse transcriptase inhibitor comes in two classes; non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and NRTIs.
-Integrate inhibitor prevents virus from permanently inserting its genetic material into human chromosomes-another way to block viral reproduction.
Protease inhibitor such as darunavir prevents HIV from constructing the protein compounds it needs to assemble new viruses.
Brian Omondi

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