In addition to limiting human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection [1], SAMHD1 has also been shown to restrict the infection of herpesviruses [Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human/mouse cytomegalovirus (HCMV/MCMV) and human simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) [2–7], vaccinia virus [2], human T cell leukemia virus type 1 [8], hepatitis B virus [9] and human papillomavirus 16 [10]. The gene discussed is SAMHD1; the disease is infection.