The interplay between lipid droplets and virus infection

As an intracellular parasite, the virus usurps cellular machinery and modulates cellular metabolism pathways to replicate itself in cells. Lipid droplets (LDs) are universally conserved energy storage organelles that not only play vital roles in maintaining lipid homeostasis but are also involved in viral replication. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that viruses take advantage of cellular lipid metabolism by targeting the biogenesis, hydrolysis, and lipophagy of LD during viral infection. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the modulation of cellular LD by different viruses, with a special emphasis on the Hepatitis C virus, Dengue virus, and SARS-CoV-2.

Automated summary

As intracellular parasites, viruses exploit cellular machinery and manipulate cellular metabolism pathways to replicate themselves. They also exploit cellular lipid metabolism by targeting the biogenesis, hydrolysis, and lipophagy of lipid droplets (LDs) during viral infection. This review summarizes the current understanding of how different viruses modulate cellular LDs, with a focus on Hepatitis C virus, Dengue virus, and SARS-CoV-2.