Antiviral therapy is the use of agents that inhibit the replication or pathogenic activity of viruses, reducing the severity and duration of viral infection and limiting transmission and complications. Unlike antibacterial drugs, antivirals must act selectively against processes that depend heavily on host-cell mach…
Antiviral therapy is the use of agents that inhibit the replication or pathogenic activity of viruses, reducing the severity and duration of viral infection and limiting transmission and complications. Unlike antibacterial drugs, antivirals must act selectively against processes that depend heavily on host-cell machinery, so most target discrete steps of the viral life cycle: attachment and entry, uncoating, nucleic-acid synthesis by viral polymerases and reverse transcriptase, protein processing by viral proteases, integration, and assembly or release. Because single-agent use can drive resistance, many regimens combine drugs with complementary mechanisms, exemplified by combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV and the integrase-inhibitor class represented by dolutegravir, where pharmacokinetics and use in pregnancy are important considerations. Beyond direct-acting antivirals, the field encompasses immunomodulatory strategies that augment host defence, such as interferon-gamma, studied as supportive treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Antiviral management also intersects with diagnosis and surveillance of conditions including cytomegalovirus disease, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, and emerging respiratory viruses, and with the assessment of outcomes in vulnerable groups such as patients with cancer or diabetes. Core themes include drug selection, timing of initiation, resistance monitoring, prophylaxis, and the continuing search for broad-spectrum agents against newly emergent and re-emergent pathogens.
9 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 9 articles above have been cited 13 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
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