Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Protease inhibitors are a class of antimicrobial drugs that block the activity of proteases, enzymes which break down proteins. They are commonly used in the treatment of viral infections such as HIV.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Protease inhibitors prevent viral replication by inhibiting the protease enzyme necessary for protein processing.
They are crucial in Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) for HIV treatment.
Resistance to protease inhibitors can develop through mutations in the viral protease gene.
Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues and metabolic disturbances like lipodystrophy.
Ritonavir is often used to boost the effectiveness of other protease inhibitors by inhibiting their metabolism.
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Related terms
Antiretroviral Therapy: Treatment using drugs that inhibit the growth of retroviruses like HIV.
Enzyme Inhibitor: A molecule that binds to an enzyme and decreases its activity.
Viral Protease: An enzyme produced by viruses that cleaves protein precursors essential for viral maturation.