The first class of drugs developed to treat AIDS, such as AZT, were known as reverse transcriptase inhibitors. They worked because they ________.
A) targeted and destroyed the viral genome before it could be reverse transcribed into DNA
B) bonded to the dsDNA genome of the virus in such a way that it could not separate for replication to occur
C) bonded to the viral reverse transcriptase enzyme, thus preventing the virus from making a DNA copy of its RNA genome
D) prevented host cells from producing the enzymes used by the virus to replicate its genome

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors, such as AZT, target the viral reverse transcriptase enzyme. This prevents the virus from making a DNA copy of its RNA genome, which is necessary for replication. Without reverse transcription, the virus cannot integrate into the host cell genome and spread.

The First Class of Drugs Developed to Treat AIDS, Such