HIV/AIDS & COVID-19 Drugs Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 pharmacology, based on lecture notes.

HIV

A retrovirus that attacks CD4 cells, weakening the immune system by integrating its DNA into the host genome.

Reverse Transcriptase, Integrase, and Protease

Enzymes used by HIV to replicate, inhibited by antiretroviral drugs.

AIDS

The advanced stage of HIV infection, characterized by a severely weakened immune system and vulnerability to opportunistic infections and cancers.

ART

Antiretroviral therapy, the combination of HIV medicines used to treat HIV infection.

Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)

A class of antiretroviral drugs that block the HIV reverse transcriptase enzyme, preventing viral replication.

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

Antiretroviral drugs that block viral replication by competing with natural nucleosides.

Protease Inhibitors (PIs)

Medications that prevent a virus from making more copies of itself, commonly used as an antiretroviral to manage HIV/AIDS.

Fusion Inhibitors

Class of antiretroviral drugs that prevent HIV from entering and fusing with human cells.

CCR5 Coreceptor Antagonists

Antagonists that prevent HIV from entering cells by blocking the CCR5 coreceptor on the surface of certain immune cells.

Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs)

Inhibitors that block integrase, an HIV enzyme, preventing HIV from replicating.

Nevirapine (NVP)

An NNRTI used to treat and prevent HIV-1 infection by blocking viral replication.

Zidovudine (AZT, ZDV)

The first antiretroviral drug used to treat HIV/AIDS, prevent mother-to-child transmission, and protect against occupational exposure.

COVID-19

A respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Antiviral Drugs

Medications that help the body combat harmful viruses by alleviating symptoms and reducing the duration of a viral infection.

Remdesivir (Veklury)

An antiviral drug that inhibits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase enzyme, preventing viral replication of SARS-CoV-2.