Abstract: An antiviral agent capable of disrupting the association of two viral proteins required for DNA replication in herpesviruses. The agents disrupt the association of UL8 and POL in HSV-1 or the association of equivalent homologues of these proteins in other herpesviruses (for example UL 102 and UL54 in HCMV). Suitable agents are peptides which mimic the C-terminal or C-proximal portion of UL8 (or its homologues) for example the peptide IELVFTGVLAGVWGEGGKFV. Peptidomimetic compounds of such peptides are also suitable anti-viral agents. An assay to test for agents capable of disrupting association of POL and UL8 (or homologues thereof) is also described.

Abstract: A multiply-displayed peptide structure is provided for the serodiagnosis of HSV-2 antibodies, preferably by ELISA. The structure has the formula (1)): [(X.sup.1).sub.p --16aa sequence--(X.sup.2).sub.q --Sp].sub.n --core, wherein "16aa sequence" represents a sequence (SEQ ID NO: 68) Glu Glu Phe Glu Gly Ala Gly Asp Gly Glu Pro Pro 1 5 10 Glu Asp Asp Asp 15X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 which may be the same or different represent from 1 to 6 non-interfering amino acid residues, which may be the same or different;Sp represents a spacer group extending outwardly from the core;n is at least 4;p is 0 or 1;q is 0 or 1;and the linkage between the core and the spacer group may be chemical or physical.Preferably p is 1, q is 1, X.sup.1 is Pro, n is 4, and the core is a branched lysine core, whereby the whole structure is a peptide. The monomeric peptides (X.sup.1).sub.p --16aa sequence--(X.sup.2).sub.q --(Sp).sub.r, where r is 0 or 1 and their functional derivatives are useful intermediates in preparing the above structures.