Preface

Autophagy is a genetic program that secures the survival of eukaryotic cells to compensate for periods of starvation and cellular stress. Apoptosis, in contrast, is a genetically defined program leading to cell death. Both pathways are interconnected through conserved co-reg‐ ulatory signaling pathways that are context-dependent. Proper co-regulation of autophagy and apoptosis, whereby autophagy exerts an anti-apoptotic function and apoptosis inhibits autophagic survival strategies, critically secures the survival of healthy cells and counteract genomic instability in eukaryotic organisms. Necrosis is a form of cell injury which results in the premature deathof cells in living tissue by autolysis.

> **Dr. Tobias M. Ntuli** Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Republic of South Africa

**Section 1**
