Re: Why isn’t the inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase

As far as I can tell, it is effective. Many DNA viruses, such as herpesviruses, encode a viral ribonucleotide reductase, and inhibitors of the viral ribonucleotide reductase decrease viral replication significantly, although they do not totally stop replication. Drug resistance develops in viruses, so that viruses can become resistant to drugs or peptides aimed at inhibiting this enzyme.

Other double-stranded DNA viruses, such as the African Swine Fever Virus, also encode their own ribonucleotide reductase, and inhibition of this enzyme reduces viral replication.

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Brandt CR, Imesch P, Spencer B, Eliassi-Rad B, Syed NA, Untawale S, Robinson NL, Albert DM.
The herpes simplex virus type 1 ribonucleotide reductase is required for acute retinal disease.
Arch Virol. 1997;142(5):883-96.
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Prichard MN, Shipman C Jr.
Ribonucleotide reductase: an important enzyme in the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 and a target for antiviral chemotherapy.
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Cunha CV, Costa JV.
Induction of ribonucleotide reductase activity in cells infected with African swine fever virus.
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