Azidothymidine – Definition & Meaning

Azidothymidine, also known as zidovudine or AZT, is a medication used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It was the first drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. In this article, we will explore the definition, meaning, origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences of azidothymidine.

Definitions

Azidothymidine is a synthetic nucleoside analogue that inhibits the replication of HIV. It works by interfering with the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which is necessary for the virus to replicate. Azidothymidine is also used in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Origin

Azidothymidine was first synthesized in 1964 by Jerome Horwitz, a scientist at the Michigan Cancer Foundation. It was initially developed as a potential cancer treatment but was found to be ineffective. In the 1980s, researchers discovered that azidothymidine had antiviral properties and could be used to treat HIV/AIDS.

Meaning in different dictionaries

According to Merriam-Webster, azidothymidine is defined as “a synthetic nucleoside analogue C10H13N5O4 used especially in the treatment of HIV infection.”
The Oxford English Dictionary defines azidothymidine as “a drug used in the treatment of HIV infection, which inhibits the replication of the virus by interfering with the reverse transcriptase enzyme.”

Associations

Azidothymidine is associated with the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is also associated with the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Azidothymidine is often used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS.

Synonyms

Synonyms of azidothymidine include zidovudine, AZT, and Retrovir.

Antonyms

There are no direct antonyms of azidothymidine. However, some antiretroviral drugs may be used in place of azidothymidine for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

The same root words

Azidothymidine does not share any root words with other English words.

Example Sentences

1. Azidothymidine is a medication used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
2. The doctor prescribed azidothymidine to the patient with HIV.
3. Azidothymidine is often used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
4. Azidothymidine has been shown to be effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
5. The patient experienced side effects from taking azidothymidine, including nausea and fatigue.