Just like we organize our houses to prevent broken or unwanted objects from accumulating, cells use autophagy to maintain homeostasis. This important clean-up process allows cells to capture and degrade unwanted or dysfunctional macromolecules, such as damaged organelles, protein aggregates, and microbial pathogens. In other words, autophagy is a fundamental defense mechanism that cells use to control and clear viral infections.
In this episode, scientist We interviewed Dr. Josephine Tinwa, assistant professor in the departments of Internal Medicine and Microbiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, to learn more about the importance of autophagy in mitigating viral infections and how understanding this process can help doctors treat rare neurodevelopmental disorders.
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speaker:
Josephine Tinwa, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and Microbiology
Member of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Geographical Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center