This book highlights some of the demanding research topics related to autophagy and also analyzes the recent developments in its molecular mechanisms. The emphasis is on the role this cell defense mechanism plays in studying various diseases which include liver diseases, cancers, myopathies and infectious diseases. The contradictory role of autophagy i.e. cell survival versus cell death; draws the focus on the importance of keeping in mind this double-edged nature in future developments of the currently promising autophagy-modulating therapies. This book provides new ground breaking researches and expands the base for further study in the field of autophagy.