What is the main target of antiviral drugs?

Antiviral drugs primarily target viral replication processes because these medications are designed to inhibit the ability of viruses to reproduce within a host. Unlike bacteria or fungi, viruses rely on the host’s cellular machinery for replication, which is why antiviral agents focus on disrupting specific steps in the viral life cycle, such as attachment, entry, uncoating, synthesis of viral components, assembly, and release.

By focusing on different stages of viral replication, these drugs can effectively limit the spread of the virus in the host's body. For example, some antivirals inhibit enzymes that are critical for viral genome replication, while others may block the viral proteins necessary for the assembly of new virions.

Other options predominately involve targets relating to bacterial or fungal infections and human cellular function, which are not applicable for antiviral therapy. Bacterial cell walls, fungal cell membranes, and human DNA synthesis are not the focus of antiviral drugs, since these drugs are specifically designed to combat viral infections rather than interfering with bacterial or fungal growth or affecting human DNA processes directly.