Apoptotis during viral infections is an important factor for understanding of pathogenic processes. Depending on the replication strategy of a specific virus the inhibition as well as the activation of apoptosis may be positive for the viral progeny. Both strategies make sense: First, the inhibition of apoptotic processes gives time and resources to create new virus particles. Second, since apoptosis does not induce an inflammatory reaction a viral-induced apoptosis is reasonable for a well-defined virus release thus escaping the immune system. As an example, the interaction between the capsid protein VP2 of coxsackievirus B3 with the mammalian proapoptotic protein Siva was characterized intensively. The obtained data show how specific a virus-host protein-protein interaction interferes with the pathogenesis of a viral infection.