Inhibition of herpesvirus and influenza virus replication by blocking polymerase subunit interactions

•This review describes the development of antivirals that inhibit herpesviruses and influenza virus.•These compounds block interactions between the subunits of the viral DNA or RNA polymerase.•Some of them may deserve further development.

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) play a key role in many biological processes, including virus replication in the host cell. Since most of the PPIs are functionally essential, a possible strategy to inhibit virus replication is based on the disruption of viral protein complexes by peptides or small molecules that interfere with subunit interactions. In particular, an attractive target for antiviral drugs is the binding between the subunits of essential viral enzymes. This review describes the development of new antiviral compounds that inhibit herpesvirus and influenza virus replication by blocking interactions between subunit proteins of their polymerase complexes.