Chapter 6, Problem 67RE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The mechanism of action of the drugs, indinavir and amprenavir, is to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is an RNA virus that infects the T lymphocytes of the white blood cells. HIV causes Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is an STD (sexually transmitted disease). It is communicable through body fluids, such as sperm, blood, saliva, and so on.

HIV has three types of enzymes—reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase. These three enzymes and their activities are essential for HIV to survive and propagate. Pharmaceutical companies produce drugs to block these three enzymes. Protease is the main target of these drugs. However, new drugs also target integrase and reverse transcriptase.