Final answer:
There is no cure for AIDS, but protease inhibitors and HAART can slow the progression of the disease by interfering with the HIV life cycle and reducing viral loads. Taking these drugs consistently prolongs life and reduces transmission risk. Research continues toward finding drugs that could potentially eradicate the hidden virus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Treating HIV/AIDS
While there is no cure for AIDS, its progression can be slowed down by treatments that interfere with the life cycle of HIV at different stages. The first type of these drugs are protease inhibitors, which hinder the action of enzymes known as proteases. These proteases are instrumental in producing the final versions of viral proteins necessary for the assembly of new virus particles in an infected individual.
The class of drugs known as protease inhibitors significantly reduce the HIV in an infected person by preventing the maturation of the virus. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), also known as combined ART, uses a combination of drugs that act on different viral targets such as fusion inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors. This combination therapy helps maintain the function of the immune system and prevents opportunistic infections that could lead to death.
Furthermore, taking antiretroviral drugs consistently allows HIV-infected individuals to live longer, healthier lives and decreases the risk of transmitting the virus. Researchers continue to search for drugs that can target the hidden virus that remains in the immune cells, with a view toward potentially eradicating AIDS in the future.