Antivirals function by targeting specific stages in the viral life cycle. Some antivirals inhibit the entry of the virus into host cells, while others may interfere with viral replication or assembly. For instance, nucleoside analogues mimic the building blocks of DNA or RNA, thereby disrupting viral replication. Other antivirals may inhibit viral enzymes like reverse transcriptase or protease inhibitors, which are crucial for the virus to replicate and assemble new viral particles.
