Walsh & Hoyt: Potential Therapeutic Targets in Lentivirus Infections

The lipid envelope renders the lentiviral virion exquisitely susceptible to environmental insults, such as inactivation by drying or physical agents such as heat, disinfectants (e.g., glutaraldehyde and hypochlorite), or even soap and water. Multiple potential targets for anti-lentiviral pharmacologic therapy have been considered. These include: (a) inhibitors of virion infectivity by decreasing attachment or fusion; (b) inhibitors of the translation and integration enzymes of the viral genome including reverse transcriptase, RNAase, and integrase; (c) inhibitors of viral gene expression through regulatory genes and products; and (d) inhibitors of virion formation through decreasing viral protease activity. Once integration into the host genome occurs, a persistent infection develops that cannot be cleared from the genome. The current and approved therapies for lentiviral infections include inhibitors of reverse transcriptase and protease.