Derived from the Greek words for “big” and “eat,” macrophages are a type of disease-fighting white blood cell that engulfs and then destroys foreign invaders, like viruses, and calls other immune system cells to action.
Glossary
macrophage
mechanism of action
The way in which a drug or product works. In the case of a microbicide, it is the way in which the active ARV component protects healthy cells from HIV infection.
microbicide
A natural or man-made substance that kills microbes, most often bacteria or viruses. Researchers are developing microbicides to reduce the transmission of HIV during sexual intercourse.