Viral protein involved in the inhibition of host autophagy. Autophagy is a major intracellular pathway in the delivery of cytoplasmic material to lysosomes for degradation. It is also essential for the removal of pathogenic protein aggregates from the cell during infection. Several viruses including influenza and HIV-1 block autophagosome maturation by interacting with and inhibiting host Beclin-1, an essential protein playing a central role in autophagy.