Therapeutic potential of protein–protein interaction modulators in antiviral research

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) are necessary for viral reproduction, disease-causing mechanisms, and how viruses affect their host organisms. Scientists believe these molecular interfaces to be valuable targets for making antiviral drugs. Still, it has been difficult to use PPIs in traditional small-molecule drug discovery because they are both structurally and functionally complex. The review illustrates the need for targeting PPIs in viral therapy and discusses the issues in using small-molecule drugs for PPIs, mainly due to their smooth and broad surfaces that drug molecules find hard to attach to. We discuss advances in techniques like structural biology, computational modeling, and high-throughput screening which have helped discover and perfect PPI inhibitors. Some examples of antiviral agents that interact with key PPIs and target virus entry, replication, and immune avoidance are included to demonstrate advancements. Despite the challenges in the past, the area of PPI-targeted antivirals is quickly growing. Recent advances in technology and design are now making it possible to see the therapeutic uses of this tough type of molecule. To succeed in the future, multidisciplinary methods will likely be needed to boost the specificity, affinity, and ability of PPI inhibitors to reach the bloodstream. More advancements in this area could change how antiviral drugs are developed and offer new assistance against emerging and drug-resistant viruses.