Role of Autophagy in DNA Virus Infections in VIVO

Autophagy plays a central role in coordinating cellular and organismal responses to virus infections and, in parallel, viruses have evolved mechanisms to antagonize or co-opt the autophagy pathway to facilitate their own replication. In this chapter, we summarize in vivo studies addressing the role of autophagy in DNA virus infections, including medically important human pathogens such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). These studies highlight the importance of autophagy in antiviral HSV-1 defense, the requirement for HSV-1 evasion of autophagy in viral virulence, and the dual roles of the autophagic machinery in facilitating HBV replication and in limiting its oncogenic potential. An understanding of the complex interplay between the autophagy machinery and DNA virus infections in vivo may ultimately lead to new strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality caused by these pathogens.