Targeting the HVEM protein using a fragment of glycoprotein D to inhibit formation of the BTLA/HVEM complex

•These studies concern blocking formation of the BTLA/HVEM complex.•gD protein, a ligand of HVEM, was used to design inhibitors of proteins binding.•The interaction of peptides with HVEM was confirmed using the SPR technique.•The peptides inhibit BTLA/HVEM binding in ELISA and cellular reporter platform.•The peptides block binding of HVEM with BTLA but not with LIGHT protein.