Figure 2.

Identifying distinct steps in HIV-1 life cycle as potential or current target for antiretroviral drugs. (A) Schematic of the HIV-1 life cycle in a susceptible CD4⁺ cell. (B) Time frame for antiretroviral drug action during a single-cycle HIV-1 replication assay. In this experiment, HIV-1 inhibitors are added following a synchronized inhibition. The addition of drug following the HIV-1 replication step targeted by the drug will result in a lack of inhibition. The time window of drug inhibition provides an estimate for the time required for these replication steps. For example, T30 or enfuvirtide (T20) only inhibits within 1–2 h of infection, whereas lamivudine (3TC) inhibits within a 2- to 10-h time frame, which coincides with reverse transcription. (C) Preclinical, abandoned (normal text), or FDA-approved (bold italic text) inhibitors are listed in relation to specificity of action and drug target.