Which of the following describes the mechanism of action of Famciclovir?

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Famciclovir is an antiviral medication that is primarily used to treat infections caused by certain types of viruses, particularly those belonging to the herpesvirus family. The mechanism of action of Famciclovir involves its metabolism to its active form, penciclovir, which competes with the natural nucleoside, deoxyguanosine, for incorporation into viral DNA. This incorporation ultimately leads to the inhibition of viral DNA polymerase.

By inhibiting the action of DNA polymerase, Famciclovir effectively disrupts the replication of viral DNA, preventing the virus from multiplying and spreading. This is crucial in the treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections.

In contrast to the other options, which involve different viral processes, inhibiting RNA polymerase, viral assembly, or protein synthesis does not describe Famciclovir's mechanism. The focus here is specifically on the inhibition of DNA polymerase, making this choice the correct one in the context of how Famciclovir exerts its antiviral effects.

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