Influenza antiviral drugs target specific viral enzymes to inhibit replication and spread of the virus. Among the options:
- DNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase are enzymes associated with DNA and retroviruses, respectively, not influenza viruses.
- Protease inhibitors are mainly used in treatment of HIV infections.
- Neuraminidase is a crucial enzyme on the surface of influenza viruses that facilitates the release of new viral particles from infected cells by cleaving sialic acid residues.
Neuraminidase inhibitors like oseltamivir and zanamivir block this enzyme, preventing viral spread and are thus effective anti-influenza agents.