EIF4E and viral infectious disease: Huang et al. (2010) have reported the identification of two VPg-interacting plant DEAD-box-containing RNA helicase-like proteins, AtRH8 from Arabidopsis and PpDDXL from peach (Figure 1). These proteins share sequence homology with eIF4A, a component of the eIF4F multiprotein complex. AtRH8 is not required for plant growth and development, but is necessary for viral infection. Arabidopsis atrh8 mutant plants were resistant to both plant potyviruses Plum pox virus (PPV) and TuMV.