It has been further shown that Atg5 is associated with clearance of viral proteins because knockout of Atg5 gene in Atg5flox/flox; Nestin-Cre mice reduced clearance of viral proteins in the retinas, which suggests a unique mechanism by which autophagic genes protect host against viral infection, involving the clearance of viral proteins without directly controlling viral replication. Here, ATG5 is linked to viral infectious disease.