Activation of HIV-1 replication causes oxidative stress, which in turn potentiates HIV-1 replication. The common basis for the compounds of the present invention is: A) the capacity of reactivating HIV-1 from latency, and B) the ability to counteract the cellular machinery which activates in order to limit the effects of oxidative stress. In this way, oxidative stress can be potentiated and a &ldquo；chain reaction&rdquo； is sparked. This &ldquo；chain reaction&rdquo； induces a more efficient reactivation of HIV-1 from latency and, in some cases, induces selective killing of the infected cells. Actions A) and B) can either be carried out by one drug exerting both effects, or obtained by the combined use of distinct drugs. There are two main cellular machineries counteracting oxidative stress, i.e. the thioredoxin (Trx) thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) system and glutathione. Herein, we present drug strategies capable of exerting action B) by blocking either of the two machineries.
