Cutting-edge developments in computer-aided anti-HIV drug design

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), remains a major global public health issue. Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not fully eradicate HIV infection, and the virus can establish latent reservoirs in the body that are challenging to eliminate. Consequently, the development of new anti-HIV medications remains a critical necessity. Traditional drug development methods are time-consuming, financially demanding, and carry a high risk of failure. In contrast, computer-aided drug design (CADD) offers a promising alternative by leveraging computational techniques and bioinformatics data to accelerate drug development, reduce costs, and improve the success rates. This literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the CADD process, identifies key proteins involved in the HIV life cycle that serve as drug targets. It highlights successful examples where CADD has contributed to the development of inhibitors targeting these proteins. Additionally, the review discusses emerging strategies and limitations of CADD in anti-HIV drug research, offering insights into its potential to revolutionize future therapeutic efforts.