Protein–Protein Interactions in the Discovery of Antiviral Drugs

Dear Colleagues,

Protein–protein interactions play essential roles in viral infections. Some viral proteins join together to form protein complexes that exert key roles in the virus life cycle. The RNA polymerase complex is an example. Additionally, some viral proteins interact with host factors during the infection process, usurping the function of these factors in favor of viral functions. Together, these protein–protein interactions are central in the pathophysiology of viral infection. As a consequence, perturbation of these key interactions has the potential to impair virus replication and propagation. Over recent years, a number of molecules, including small chemicals, peptides and antibodies, have been reported to interfere with viral functions by perturbating protein–protein interactions. The molecules showing virus specificity can serve as antiviral agents en route to the discovery of new drugs. This Special Issue of the open access journal Viruses is dedicated to experimental studies or reviews dealing with the use of protein–protein interactions as targets for antiviral drug discovery. This Special Issue also represents a powerful tool in the combat against threatening human viruses.

Dr. Benoit Coulombe
Guest Editor

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• protein–protein interactions
• antiviral drug discovery
• protein target inhibitors