Anti retroviral drugs such as zidovudine (AZT) slow the progress of HIV infection by
- A. dissolving the lipid envelope of the virus
- B. stimulating plasma cells to make more antibody
- C. inhibiting the enzyme reverse transcriptase
- D. killing the infected helper T cells before the virus matures
Explanation
AZT is a nucleoside analogue that reverse transcriptase inserts into the growing DNA chain, after which the chain cannot be extended, so no provirus is made. Because the enzyme is viral and has no human counterpart, the drug harms the virus far more than the patient. Such drugs suppress replication and prolong life but do not clear the integrated provirus, so they are not a cure.
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