African Swine Fever: Advances in Viral Evolution, Protein Characterization, Immune Responses and Therapeutics

Dear Colleagues,

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly complex, double-stranded DNA arbovirus that causes a devastating hemorrhagic disease in domestic pigs and wild suids, with expanding global distribution and major implications for food security and trade. Although significant progress has been made in characterizing ASFV genomics, protein function and host interactions, key questions remain regarding the evolutionary trajectories that shape virulence and transmission, the host and viral determinants of pathogenesis and the mechanisms by which ASFV subverts innate and adaptive immunity to establish persistent infection. This Special Issue, “African Swine Fever: Advances in Viral Evolution, Protein Characterization, Immune Responses and Therapeutics", aims to synthesize contemporary advances in ASFV pathogen biology and host–pathogen dynamics, with a view toward rational intervention design.

This Special Issue invites original research, reviews and perspectives that address (i) ASFV evolution, population structure and genotype–phenotype relationships across diverse ecological and production systems; (ii) the molecular mechanisms of viral entry, replication, assembly and egress, including the roles of viral proteins and their maturation; (iii) immune evasion strategies targeting innate and adaptive system signalling, antigen presentation, inflammasome activation and cell death programmes; (iv) host factors and pathways that restrict or facilitate ASFV infection, defined through functional genomics, proteomics and systems-level approaches; (v) correlates of protection, immune signatures associated with survival or severe disease and the impact of prior exposure or vaccination on subsequent immune responses and (vi) translational advances in vaccines, antivirals and diagnostics, including live-attenuated and gene-deleted constructs, viral vectors, subunit and mRNA platforms, host-directed therapies and field-deployable diagnostic tools.

By integrating mechanistic insights into ASFV pathogenesis and immune modulation with innovative therapeutic and preventive strategies, this issue will provide a cohesive framework to guide future research and accelerate the development of safe, effective and scalable solutions for ASF control in diverse epidemiological settings.

Dr. Niranjan Dodantenna
Guest Editor

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