title: In search of a treatment for HIV--current therapies and the role of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
abstract: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), a disease in which the immune system progressively deteriorates, making sufferers vulnerable to all manner of opportunistic infections. Currently, world-wide there are estimated to be 34 million people living with HIV, with the vast majority of these living in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, an important research focus is development of new drugs that can be used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This review gives an overview of the disease and addresses the drugs currently used for treatment, with specific emphasis on new developments within the class of allosteric non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, PO WITS, 2050, South Africa.
authors.forename: Chevonne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: de Koning
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pelly
authors.forename: Willem A L
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: van Otterlo
authors.forename: Moira L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bode
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000266:history; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase