Final answer:
The incorrect statement is that activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTORC1 pathway in virus-infected cells has no effect on autophagy, as this pathway can actually inhibit autophagy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is incorrect about signal transduction in virus-infected cells is that activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTORC1 signal relay has no effect on autophagy. In fact, the PI3K-AKT-mTORC1 pathway is known to be a major inhibitor of autophagy, and when activated, it can suppress autophagy. Autophagy is a cellular degradation process that is important in removing damaged organelles or pathogens, including viruses. Therefore, when viruses activate the PI3K-AKT-mTORC1 pathway, they not only promote survival and metabolism of the infected cell but can also inhibit this key defensive mechanism of the host cell.
Viruses often modulate multiple host signal transduction pathways to create an environment conducive to their replication and spread. For example, some viral proteins can impair the induction of host immune defenses, while others can induce cell cycle progression and proliferation, especially in the case of oncogenic viruses. Still, other viruses produce proteins that interfere with apoptosis, leading to sustained survival of the infected cells.