nucleoside analog

A nucleoside analog is a synthetic compound designed to resemble the natural building blocks of DNA and RNA, called nucleosides. These analogs mimic real nucleosides but often have slight chemical modifications. When used as medications, they interfere with the replication of viruses' genetic material, preventing them from multiplying. Nucleoside analogs are commonly employed in treating viral infections like HIV and hepatitis B, effectively inhibiting virus growth by disrupting their genetic processes without harming most human cells.