New targets for inhibitors of HIV-1 replication

Despite the success of protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, new d rugs to suppress HIV-1 replication are still needed. Several other early ev ents in the viral life cycle (stages before the viral genome is inserted in to host cell DNA) are susceptible to drugs, including virus attachment to t arget cells, membrane fusion and post-entry events such as integration, acc essory-gene function and assembly of viral particles. Among these, inhibito rs of virus-cell fusion and integration are the most promising candidates.