Master Fusion Inhibitors with Picmonic for Medicine

Fusion inhibitors are indicated for treating HIV infection, typically as a part of multidrug therapy.

Maraviroc is an oral medication that binds to CCR5 (receptor on human cells), preventing its interaction with viral protein gp120. This process disallows viral entry into the human cell.

Maraviroc binds to CCR5, which is a receptor found on the surface of CD4+ cells and is called a chemokine receptor. Binding this receptor prevents interaction with gp120.

Maraviroc prevents the host cell from interacting with gp120, which is a protein on the HIV surface that binds to CD4+ cells. Inhibiting interaction with gp120 prevents the binding of the HIV cell to CD4+, disrupting viral entry into the host cell.

Enfuvirtide is a fusion inhibitor that works by binding to gp41 (an HIV protein) and interferes with its ability to fuse with CD4+ cells.

Enfuvirtide works by binding to gp41, which is an HIV protein that penetrates the host's cell membrane.

Binding to gp41 interferes with the viral cell's ability to approximate its membrane with the hosts, leading to defective fusion.

Patients report a variety of drug effects from enfuvirtide administration through IV. These very common side effects include pain, hardening, erythema, nodules, itch, and cysts at the injection site.