title: Basal Autophagy Is Required for Herpes simplex Virus-2 Infection.
abstract: Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process of the cell, which plays an important role in regulating plethora of infections. The role of autophagy in Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection is unknown. Here, we found that HSV-2 does not allow induction of an autophagic response to infection, but maintains basal autophagy levels mostly unchanged during productive infection. Thus, we investigated the importance of basal autophagy for HSV-2 infection, using pharmacological autophagy suppression or cells genetically deficient in an autophagy-essential gene (ATG5). Interference with basal autophagy flux in cells significantly reduced viral replication and diminished the infection. These results indicate that basal autophagy plays an indispensable role required for a productive infection. Importantly, this study draws a sharp distinction between induced and basal autophagy, where the former acts as a viral clearance mechanism abrogating infection, while the latter supports infection.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL USA, 60612 [2] Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, IL USA, 60612.
authors.forename: Abraam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yakoub
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL USA, 60612 [2] Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, IL USA, 60612.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shukla
mesh_terms: D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D000071187:Autophagy-Related Protein 5; D002460:Cell Line; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C502778:ATG5 protein, human; D000071187:Autophagy-Related Protein 5; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins