Most approved anti-HIV drugs work by interfering with an enzyme and/or protein that is needed by HIV-infected cells to make new viruses.
A journey through the cell
The capsid is the name given to the proteins that surround HIV’s genetic material. Upon HIV attaching itself to a target cell of the immune system, the virus sends its genetic material (RNA) into the cell. As the genetic material is surrounded by the capsid, it is protected from detection by the cell’s internal sensors. The ca