Open reading frame 8b (orf8b) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 1 (SARS‑CoV‑1) interacts with the leucine rich repeat (LRR) domain of NACHT, LRR and PYD domain‑containing protein 3 (NLRP3) (Shi CS et al. 2019). Viral 8b formed insoluble protein aggregates and co‑localized with NLRP3 and Apoptosis‑associated Speck‑like protein containing a CARD (ASC, PYCARD) in cytosolic dot‑like structures in the human macrophage THP‑1 cells. SARS‑CoV‑1 8b is thought to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and trigger Interleukin‑1β (IL‑1β) release (Shi CS et al. 2019). In addition, aggregated 8b caused endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and lysosomal stress, which led to the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) and the upregulation of TFEB target genes involved in lysosomal function such as lysosome‑associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) (Shi CS et al. 2019). TFEB is also required for the expression of proinflammatory genes including IL‑1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (reviewed in Nabar NR & Kehrl JH 2017).