How do antiviral drugs generally function against viruses?

Antiviral drugs primarily function by inhibiting virus replication or release from host cells. This is achieved through various mechanisms, which may include blocking viral enzymes necessary for replication, interfering with viral entry into host cells, or preventing the assembly and release of new viral particles. By hindering these critical processes, antiviral drugs effectively reduce the viral load within the host, allowing the immune system a better chance to control and eliminate the infection.

The choice that suggests enhancing viral replication would contradict the purpose of antiviral therapy, which aims to combat viral infections. Similarly, while boosting the immune response can be beneficial, antiviral drugs typically do not target the immune system broadly across all pathogens; they focus specifically on disrupting the lifecycle of viruses. Lastly, the assertion that antiviral drugs kill host cells undermines their therapeutic role because the goal is to minimize harm to the host while controlling the viral infection. Thus, the focus of antiviral drugs remains squarely on inhibiting viral activity.