Apoptosis and autophagy as a turning point in viral–host interactions: the case of human norovirus and its surrogates

Abstract

Human gastroenteritis viruses are amid the major causes of disease worldwide, responsible for more than 2 million deaths per year. Human noroviruses play a leading role in the gastroenteritis outbreaks and the continuous emergence of new strains contributes to the significant morbidity and mortality. Many aspects of the viral entry and infection process remain unclear, including the major response of the host cell to the virus, which is the trigger of several programmed cell death related mechanisms. In this review, we assessed apoptosis and autophagy at various stages in the infection process to provide better understanding of the viral–host interaction. This brings us closer to fully understanding how noroviruses work, thus allowing the development of specific antiviral therapies.