A patient newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection has a baseline viral load of 100,000 copies/mL and CD4 count of 200 cells/μL. Genotypic resistance testing is performed. Which class of antiretroviral drugs inhibits the cleavage of viral polyproteins into functional units?

• A Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
• B Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
• C Fusion inhibitors
• D Protease inhibitors (PIs) ✓

Explanation

Protease inhibitors (e.g., darunavir, atazanavir) block HIV protease, the enzyme that cleaves Gag and Gag-Pol polyproteins into functional structural proteins and enzymes. This produces immature, non-infectious virions. NRTIs and NNRTIs inhibit reverse transcriptase. Fusion inhibitors (enfuvirtide) block gp41-mediated entry.

Reference: Katzung's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 15th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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