Autophagy in the control and pathogenesis of viral infection

Autophagy is an evolutionary conserved process that plays a central role in eukaryotic cell metabolism. Constitutive autophagy allows cells to ensure their energy needs are met during times of starvation, degrade long-lived cytosolic proteins, and recycle organelles. In addition, autophagy and its machinery can be utilized to degrade intracellular pathogens, and this function likely represents one of the earliest eukaryotic defense mechanisms against viral pathogens. Within the past decade, it has become clear that autophagy has not only retained its evolutionarily ancient ability to degrade intracellular pathogens, but also has coevolved with the vertebrate immune system to augment and fine tune antiviral immune responses. Herein, we aim to summarize these recent findings as well as to highlight key unanswered questions of the field.

► Autophagy and its molecular components are utilized by the innate immune system to recognize and eliminate viruses. ► Autophagy is inhibited by many viruses in order to evade detection and removal within infected cells. ► Certain viruses utilize autophagy to maximize replication.