The material indicates that standard antivirals are:

The material indicates that standard antivirals are:

• A. Always effective against all viruses
• B. Not effective against HIV or COVID
• C. Effective against HIV only
• D. Effective against COVID only

Answer: (B)

Antiviral drugs don’t work the same for every virus; they’re usually targeted to specific viruses or groups based on how the virus replicates. HIV and SARS‑CoV‑2 have unique replication machines, so the drugs that are considered “standard” antivirals for common infections don’t reliably suppress these two viruses. HIV needs a combination of drugs that inhibit reverse transcription, integration, and protease functions, while SARS‑CoV‑2 requires agents that block its RNA‑dependent replication or specific viral proteins. That’s why standard antivirals are not effective against HIV or COVID, making the statement that they aren’t universally effective the best choice.

Antiviral drugs don’t work the same for every virus; they’re usually targeted to specific viruses or groups based on how the virus replicates. HIV and SARS‑CoV‑2 have unique replication machines, so the drugs that are considered “standard” antivirals for common infections don’t reliably suppress these two viruses. HIV needs a combination of drugs that inhibit reverse transcription, integration, and protease functions, while SARS‑CoV‑2 requires agents that block its RNA‑dependent replication or specific viral proteins. That’s why standard antivirals are not effective against HIV or COVID, making the statement that they aren’t universally effective the best choice.