acyclovir
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Clipping of acycloguanosine + -vir. From being an antiviral (-vir) containing less cyclic structure ("a-"cyclic) than the naturally occurring analogue from which it is based, guanosine. This is analyzable as a- + cyclo- + -vir.
Pronunciation
Noun
acyclovir (usually uncountable, plural acyclovirs)
- (pharmacology) An antiviral drug used in the treatment of genital herpes. [from 20th c.]
- 1997, Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Folio Society 2016, p. 443:
- In cells infected with the herpes virus, acyclovir is converted to a metabolic blocking agent, thereby largely overcoming the old and plaguing problem of toxicity to the host.
- 1997, Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Folio Society 2016, p. 443:
Synonyms
- acycloguanosine
- Avirax
- Zovirax
Translations
drug
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