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Review
. 2024 Jul 26;14(15):2187.
doi: 10.3390/ani14152187.

Comprehensive Characterization of the Genetic Landscape of African Swine Fever Virus: Insights into Infection Dynamics, Immunomodulation, Virulence and Genes with Unknown Function

Dhithya Venkateswaran  1 , Anwesha Prakash  1 , Quynh Anh Nguyen  1 , Muhammad Salman  1 , Roypim Suntisukwattana  1 , Waranya Atthaapa  1 , Angkana Tantituvanont  2 , Hongyao Lin  3 , Tapanut Songkasupa  4 , Dachrit Nilubol  1
Affiliations
Review

Comprehensive Characterization of the Genetic Landscape of African Swine Fever Virus: Insights into Infection Dynamics, Immunomodulation, Virulence and Genes with Unknown Function

Dhithya Venkateswaran et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a lethal contagious hemorrhagic viral disease affecting the swine population. The causative agent is African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). There is no treatment or commercial vaccine available at present. This virus poses a significant threat to the global swine industry and economy, with 100% mortality rate in acute cases. ASFV transmission occurs through both direct and indirect contact, with control measures limited to early detection, isolation, and culling of infected pigs. ASFV exhibits a complex genomic structure and encodes for more than 50 structural and 100 non-structural proteins and has 150 to 167 open reading frames (ORFs). While many of the proteins are non-essential for viral replication, they play crucial roles in mediating with the host to ensure longevity and transmission of virus in the host. The dynamic nature of ASFV research necessitates constant updates, with ongoing exploration of various genes and their functions, vaccine development, and other ASF-related domains. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the structural and functional roles of both newly discovered and previously recorded genes involved in distinct stages of ASFV infection and immunomodulation. Additionally, the review discusses the virulence genes and genes with unknown functions, and proposes future interventions.

Keywords: African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV); genetic composition; immunomodulation; structure; vaccine targets; virulence genes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author Hongyao Lin was employed by the company MSD Animal Health Innovation Pte Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Genes and encoded proteins of ASFV categorized based on the structural layers, role in the infection cycle, immunomodulation, apoptosis inhibition, and virulence. The genes whose functions are unknown is also described. VV—Vaccinia virus; RP—RNA polymerase, DNA pol—DNA polymerase; dNTPs—deoxynucleotide triphosphate; TFIIB—Transcription factor IIB; TFIIS—Transcription elongation factor.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The proteins encoded by the ASFV genes that are involved in adsorption and uncoating. AP-2—adaptor protein-2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The proteins encoded by ASFV genes that are involved in transcription.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The ASFV genes and proteins that are involved in translation. eIF—elongation initiation factor. The green color arrows depicts the ASFV proteins that enhance translation while the red arrow indicates ASFV proteins that inhibit translation.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The proteins encoded by ASFV genes that are involved in replication. dNTPs—deoxynucleotide triphosphate; BER—base-excision repair; DNA pol—DNA polymerase.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The proteins encoded by ASFV genes that are involved in the assembly and release of ASF virions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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