# Tupaia GBP1 exploits autophagy to restrict herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

## TL;DR

This study shows that a protein in tree shrews uses autophagy to fight herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.

## Contribution

It reveals that TbGBP1 interacts with TbSTING1 to initiate autophagy against HSV-1 in tree shrews.

## Key findings

- TbGBP1 interacts with TbSTING1 to initiate autophagy.
- This autophagy process inhibits herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.
- The study uses tree shrews, a primate-like model, for this discovery.

## Abstract

Macroautophagy/autophagy initiated by STING1 (stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1) is actively involved in viral infection; and it is known that interferon-inducible guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) exploit autophagy to defend the host against bacterial infection. Here we showed that in the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri), a close relative to primates, TbGBP1 (T. belangeri GBP1) interacts with TbSTING1 to initiate autophagy and inhibit herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection.