Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to in vitro models for viral latency. In particular to latently infected cultures of primary and continuous cell lines, and to the use thereof in methods to identify anti-viral compounds. More in particular to identify compounds which are either able to modulate the induction of viral latency in the aforementioned cell cultures, or which are able to retain the viruses in the aforementioned cells in their latent form. Other aspects of the invention are directed to antiviral compounds identified using the models and methods of the present invention, as well as to the use thereof in treating latent infections such as for example latent Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections.