| abstract |
There is described an antiviral agent capable of disrupting the association of two viral structural proteins required for maturation, replication and infection of herpesviruses. The agents are based upon VP22 and disrupt the normal association of that protein with VP16 and/or gB. Suitable agents are peptides having the amino acid sequences TPRVAGFNKRVFCAAVGRLAAMHARMAAVQLW or ITTIRVTVCEGKNLLQRANE or portions or functional equivalents thereof. The agents are suitable for combatting infection of herpesviruses and thus for the treatment of cold sores, genital herpes, chickenpox and shingles. An assay to test for agents able to disrupt VP22/V16 and/or VP22/gB association is also described. |