Monique Gannage: "Matrix Protein 2 of Influenza A virus hijacks macroautophagy"

Monique Gannage
Laboratory of Viral Immunobiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Matrix Protein 2 of Influenza A virus hijacks macroautophagy

Autophagy deregulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of several infectious diseases. RNA and DNA virus can subvert the pathway for the benefit of the host or for their own benefit. We have demonstrated that influenza A virus infection results in autophagosomes accumulation. We identified Matrix protein 2 of influenza A virus as the protein responsible for autophagosomes block of maturatiom. The consequence of this phenotype is a higher susceptibility to apoptosis: by compromising a major pro-survival pathway of the cell, Influenza A accelerate the death of its host. We are now investigating in vivo in different mouse models, if autophagy subversion during influenza infection plays a role on the adaptive immune response.