Project description:African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a fatal disease with up to 100% mortality in domestic pigs and wild boar (species Sus scrofa), leading to significant economic losses for swine production. Unlike other eukaryotic viruses, ASFV encodes a histone-like nucleic acid-binding protein, pA104R. The A104R gene is highly conserved and present in all ASFV isolates of different genotypes. Moreover, A104R-like sequences have been identified in the genomes of soft ticks, which can replicate and transmit ASFV. Using a virulent genotype IX field isolate from Kenya, we analyzed the importance of A104R for viral replication in a permissive wild boar cell line (WSL). In this study, we confirmed that A104R is not essential for in vitro replication of ASFV. Loss of A104R did not detectably affect viral DNA replication or RNA transcription, but led to a moderate reduction of virus titers and plaque sizes. Substitution of A104R by a similar ASFV-like element derived from the genome of an Ornithodoros moubata soft tick was not capable of rescuing the deletion mutant phenotype. In contrast, reintroduction of the authentic A104R open reading frame (ORF) into the deletion mutant fully restored wild-type virus growth properties. In accompanying studies, we verified the DNA binding activities of the ASFV-, and of the tick-derived A104R protein (pA104R), and performed mass spectrometric analyses of the pA104R interactome. These experiments revealed besides DNA-dependent co-precipitated proteins, also specific, DNA-independent protein-protein interactions of pA104R with other viral and cellular proteins.
2026-03-04 | PXD067191 | Pride
Project description:CRISPR/Cas9 editing of genotype IX African swine fever virus
Project description:African swine fever virus is highly contagious and causes a fatal infectious disease in pigs, resulting in a significant global impact on pork supply. The African swine fever virus RNA polymerase serves as a crucial multifunctional protein complex responsible for genome transcription and regulation. Therefore, it is essential to investigate its structural and functional characteristics for the prevention and control of African swine fever. Here, we determine the structures of endogenous African swine fever virus RNA polymerase in both nucleic acid-free and elongation states. The African swine fever virus RNA polymerase shares similarities with the core of typical RNA polymerases, but possesses a distinct subunit M1249L. Notably, the dynamic binding mode of M1249L with RNA polymerase, along with the C-terminal tail insertion of M1249L in the active center of DNA-RNA scaffold binding, suggests the potential of M1249L to regulate RNA polymerase activity within cells. These results are important for understanding the transcription cycle of African swine fever virus and for developing antiviral strategies.
Project description:Purpose: This goal of this study was to explore the host transcriptomic responses in African swine fever virus experimentally infected pigs using RNA-Sequencing. Methods: RNAs acquired from ten different organ tissue samples were sequenced. Sequencing reads were preprocessed, aligned with the reference genome, assembled and expressions were estimated through bioinformatics approaches. Result: Several uprugulated DEGs were identified. Conclusion: We found important candidate genes and pathways for further testing in African swine fever virus infection in pig.
Project description:Complete genome sequencing and comparative phylogenomics of multiple African swine fever virus (ASFV) field isolates of the virulent East African p72 genotype IX viruses
Project description:In field studies and carefully controlled artificial infections, there is host variation in response to ASF infections. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this diversity and distinguish between resilient and susceptible pigs to African Swine Fever (ASF), the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were studied between the recovered versus non-recovered pigs before and after an infection challenge and also among non-recovered animals over time. In total, 17 Babraham pigs were sampled. Twelve animals were randomly immunized with low virulent ASFV isolate, and the others received the sham vaccine. All animals were then challenged with the virulent ASFV isolate 18 days after the immunization. Except for five animals, all showed clinical signs and dead between 4 and 6 days later. RNA sequencing was done for whole blood samples collected pre-infection, one day, and one week post-infection.