Abstract
African swine fever is a devastating hemorrhagic infectious disease, which affects domestic and wild swines (Sus scrofa) of all breeds and ages, with a high lethality of up to 90–100% in naïve animals. The causative agent, African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a large and complex double-stranded DNA arbovirus which is currently spreading worldwide, with serious socioeconomic consequences. There is no treatment or effective vaccine commercially available, and most of the current research is focused on attenuated viral models, with limited success so far. Thus, new strategies are under investigation. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have proven to be a promising new vaccination platform for veterinary diseases in situations in which conventional approaches have not been completely successful. Here, serum extracellular vesicles from infected pigs using two different ASFV viruses (OURT 88/3 and Benin ΔMGF), corresponding to a naturally attenuated virus and a deletion mutant, respectively, were characterized in order to determine possible differences in the content of swine and viral proteins in EV-enriched fractions. Firstly, EVs were characterized by their CD5, CD63, CD81 and CD163 surface expression. Secondly, ASFV proteins were detected on the surface of EVs from ASFV-infected pig serum. Finally, proteomic analysis revealed few specific proteins from ASFV in the EVs, but 942 swine proteins were detected in all EV preparations (negative controls, and OURT 88/3 and Benin ΔMGF-infected preparations). However, in samples from OURT 88/3-infected animals, only a small number of proteins were differentially identified compared to control uninfected animals. Fifty-six swine proteins (Group Benin) and seven proteins (Group OURT 88/3) were differentially detected on EVs when compared to the EV control group. Most of these were related to coagulation cascades. The results presented here could contribute to a better understanding of ASFV pathogenesis and immune/protective responses in the host.
Highlights
IntroductionAfrican swine fever (ASF) constitutes the biggest threat faced by the world pork industry
African swine fever (ASF) constitutes the biggest threat faced by the world pork industry.The causative agent, African swine fever (ASFV), is a large and complex double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Asfarviridae family [1]
We tentatively hypothesize that there was a relationship between the viral proteins detected in the Extracellular vesicles (EVs)-enriched fractions we examined and the modifications in swine proteins associated with those fractions of EVs (20 significant proteins at 7 dpi and 56 significant proteins at 24 dpi), including those proteins identified as differentially expressed in OURT
Summary
African swine fever (ASF) constitutes the biggest threat faced by the world pork industry. The causative agent, African swine fever (ASFV), is a large and complex double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Asfarviridae family [1]. ASFV affects domestic pigs and wild boars as well as other. Clinical signs during infection vary considerably from acute forms, with mortality rates up to 90–100% in domestic pigs and wild boar to inapparent infections in bushpigs (Potamochoerus sp.). The latter are involved in the sylvatic cycle with a soft tick vector. The mature viral particle has an icosahedral morphology with a size range of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
