Tat-beclin 1, a peptide derived from a region of the autophagy protein (beclin 1), is a potent inducer of autophagy and interacts with negative regulator of autophagy, GAPR-1 (GLIPR2). Tat-beclin 1 decreases the accumulation of polyglutamine expansion protein aggregates and the replication of several pathogens (including HIV-1) in vitro, and reduces mortality in mice infected with chikungunya (CHIKV) or West Nile virus (WNV).