The transcriptional coactivators CREB-binding protein (capital ES, Cyrilliccapital VE, Cyrilliccapital ER, Cyrillic) and small er, Cyrillic300 regulate inducible transcription in multiple cellular processes and during the establishment of inflammatory and immune response. These closely related transcriptional coactivators arc able to modulate the transcription of specific genes, modify chromatin structure, and influence cell-cycle progression. Several viruses have been shown to interfere with CREB-binding protein/small er, Cyrillic300 function, modulating their transcriptional activity. During a viral infection, reprogramming of the host cell gene expression pattern is required to establish an adequate antiviral response and, thus, many viruses encode proteins that can influence or interfere with cellular signals to evade inflammation and immune response. The mechanism of transcriptional regulation by coactivator proteins, including small er, Cyrillic300/CBP, has been the focus of intense study. As a part of this, some of the molecular instruments developed by viruses to counteract the host response and their role in the regulation of inflammation and immune response are summarized in this review.