Peroxisome Plasticity at the Virus–Host Interface

Peroxisomes are multifunctional organelles with roles in cellular metabolism, cytotoxicity, and signaling. The plastic nature of these organelles allows them to respond to diverse biological processes, such as virus infections, by remodeling their biogenesis, morphology, and composition to enhance specific functions. During virus infections in humans, peroxisomes act as important immune signaling organelles, aiding the host by orchestrating antiviral signaling. However, more recently it was discovered that peroxisomes can also benefit the virus, facilitating virus–host interactions that rewire peroxisomes to support cellular processes for virus replication and spread. Here, we describe recent studies that uncovered this double-edged character of peroxisomes during infection, highlighting mechanisms that viruses have coevolved to take advantage of peroxisome plasticity. We also provide a perspective for future studies by comparing the established roles of peroxisomes in plant infections and discussing the promise of virology studies as a venue to reveal the uncharted biology of peroxisomes. The peroxisome has emerged as a multifunctional organelle with the capacity to act at the interface between host defense and virus replication.Nearly a decade ago, the antiviral protein MAVS was found to localize to the peroxisome, marking peroxisome-mediated immune signaling as a critical component of host defense. In response, viruses have acquired mechanisms for suppressing peroxisome signaling.Virus-induced rewiring of peroxisome function revealed that peroxisomes also have proviral functions via lipid synthesis necessary for enveloped viruses.The opposing peroxisome functions are temporally regulated, acting in immune response early in infection and facilitating virus assembly at later stages.Peroxisome numbers and morphology are finely tuned in tandem with peroxisomal functions during infection, providing a powerful example of a link between shape and function.