The identification of ORF3a in SARS-CoV-2 in this work as a potent autophagy inhibitor indicates an additional capability for this protein to inhibit a biological process that it is well known for defending cells from viral infections.55,56 Two recent reports published post the completion of this work independently confirmed that ORF3a from SARS-CoV-2 is an autophagy inhibitor.57,58 ORF3a can inhibit autophagy by affecting the functionality of the homotypic fusion and protein sorting (HOPS) tethering complex by interacting with one of the proteins of the complex called VPS39.57,58. Here, VPS39 is linked to viral infectious disease.