This catabolic process serves dual homeostatic and stress-responsive functions against oxidative injury, ischemia, and infection (Bernard et al., 2015; Lei and Klionsky, 2021; Mizushima et al., 2008; Siddiqui et al., 2015), governed by the PI3K-AKT1-mTOR signaling axis and core regulators (mTOR, Beclin-1, ATGs, AMPK). The gene discussed is MTOR; the disease is infection.