Compositions and methods of treating a retroviral infection in an afflicted host and/or inhibiting replication of a retrovirus involve administering a therapeutically effective amount of the following compound of formula I: A-L-B (I) wherein A is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl compound, substituted or unsubstituted piperidyl, or substituted or unsubstituted thiopheneyl; L is sulfonyl, sulfinyl or thio; and B is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic nitrogen containing heteroaryl compound; or pharmacologically acceptable acid-addition and base-addition salts thereof.