 Viruses use a variety of strategies to manipulate their hosts, including mimicking host proteins or structures. This study identified 17-12 such interactions between viruses and host proteins, providing insights into how viruses interact with their hosts and how these interactions could be exploited for therapeutic purposes. The researchers also found that viral mimicry-based interactions are often stronger than endogenous interactions, suggesting that they may be more effective at disrupting normal cellular processes. Additionally, they discovered a new target for antiviral drug development, polyadenolate binding protein 1, which could potentially be used to combat future epidemics and pandemics. This article was authored by Philip Mahali, Leandro Simonetti, Girolamo Giudice, and others.