HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors and mechanisms of resistance

Abstract

Due to its vital role in the viral life cycle and to the lack of a mammalian equivalent, the reverse transcriptase (RT) is one of the main targets in antiretroviral therapy. More than half of the drugs approved for the treatment of HIV infections target the RT of the virus. Inhibitors targeting RT are divided in two classes: nucleoside analog RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside analogs RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). Both classes target the polymerase activity of RT, but differ significantly in their mechanisms of inhibition and resistance.