In a study appearing in Cell Host & Microbe, UC Davis plant biologists highlight key proteins that allow pathogens to target and manipulate the molecular machinery responsible for a host plant's autophagy process.

Much like characters in a bank heist, viruses in competitive environments can collaborate for their share of the "score" of successfully co-infecting hosts. But these relationships may change once inside the host cell, according to Assistant Professor Samuel Díaz-Muñoz​.