Highly lethal genotype I and II recombinant African swine fever viruses detected in pigs

Dongming Zhao; Encheng Sun; Lianyu Huang; Leilei Ding; Yuanmao Zhu; Jiwen Zhang; Dongdong Shen; Xianfeng Zhang; Zhenjiang Zhang; Tao Ren; Wan Wang; Fang Li; Xijun He; Zhigao Bu

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-38868-w

Nature Communications (May 2023)

Highly lethal genotype I and II recombinant African swine fever viruses detected in pigs

Dongming Zhao,
Encheng Sun,
Lianyu Huang,
Leilei Ding,
Yuanmao Zhu,
Jiwen Zhang,
Dongdong Shen,
Xianfeng Zhang,
Zhenjiang Zhang,
Tao Ren,
Wan Wang,
Fang Li,
Xijun He,
Zhigao Bu

Affiliations

Dongming Zhao: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Encheng Sun: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Lianyu Huang: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Leilei Ding: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Yuanmao Zhu: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Jiwen Zhang: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Dongdong Shen: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Xianfeng Zhang: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Zhenjiang Zhang: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Tao Ren: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Wan Wang: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Fang Li: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Xijun He: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Zhigao Bu: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38868-w
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract African swine fever virus (ASFV) poses a great threat to the global pig industry and food security. Currently, 24 ASFV genotypes have been reported but it is unclear whether recombination of different genotype viruses occurs in nature. In this study, we detect three recombinants of genotype I and II ASFVs in pigs in China. These recombinants are genetically similar and classified as genotype I according to their B646L gene, yet 10 discrete fragments accounting for over 56% of their genomes are derived from genotype II virus. Animal studies with one of the recombinant viruses indicate high lethality and transmissibility in pigs, and deletion of the virulence-related genes MGF_505/360 and EP402R derived from virulent genotype II virus highly attenuates its virulence. The live attenuated vaccine derived from genotype II ASFV is not protective against challenge of the recombinant virus. These naturally occurring recombinants of genotype I and II ASFVs have the potential to pose a challenge to the global pig industry.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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