Fig. 4: Flaviviruses modulate mitophagy.
From: Flaviviruses manipulate mitochondrial processes to evade the innate immune response
Mitophagy, the controlled degradation of damaged mitochondria from the cell, prevents the release of proteins and other components that can activate inflammatory pathways. Flavivirus infection induces mitochondrial stress, and flaviviruses target this process to evade innate immune responses. The NS4A proteins of ZIKV and JEV enhance mitophagy. For JEV, this involves increasing levels of key regulators of mitophagy, the kinase PINK1 and the ubiquitin E3 ligase Parkin. In contrast, the NS5 protein of ZIKV abrogates mitophagy by inhibiting the interaction between PINK1 and Ajuba, another host factor that promotes mitophagy. Superscripts refer to reference numbers.
