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The idea behind multidrug therapy for HIV is to increase the number of mutations required for resistance and thus reduce genetic variation in the viral population for survivial in the presence of drugs. Could be achieve the same effect by using antiretroviral drugs in sequence instead of simultaneously?

User Alanning
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Final answer:

Multidrug therapy for HIV aims to reduce genetic variation and increase resistance to drugs. Using antiretroviral drugs in sequence may not achieve the same effect as multidrug therapy due to the virus's high mutation rate and ability to develop resistance when drugs are used individually.

Step-by-step explanation:

The idea behind multidrug therapy for HIV is to increase the number of mutations required for resistance and thus reduce genetic variation in the viral population for survival in the presence of drugs. By using antiretroviral drugs in sequence instead of simultaneously, it may not achieve the same effect as multidrug therapy.

This is because when drugs are used individually, the virus can easily develop resistance to the drug due to its high mutation rate. However, in multidrug therapy, different drugs attack the virus at different stages of its replicative cycle, making it more challenging for the virus to develop resistance to multiple drugs simultaneously.

User Brthornbury
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