Viral trafficking: The role of autophagy in the release of virus-loaded extracellular vesicles.

Over the past decade, the interplay between autophagy process and viral replication, alongside the mechanisms by which viruses evade immune surveillance, has been extensively investigated. Increasing evidence indicates that viruses hijack the autophagic machinery to facilitate the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying viral components. This involvement highlights autophagy as a central hub in viral trafficking, bridging intracellular remodelling with extracellular dissemination. In this review, we explore how viruses exploit autophagy and EV pathways to promote replication and enable non-lytic release. We highlight the molecular interactions underlying EV biogenesis and secretory autophagy and discuss the emerging potential of EVs as biomarkers and therapeutic platforms, despite current technical challenges. Finally, we examine strategies to target the autophagy-EV interface as an antiviral strategy.