Generation and Genetic Stability of a PolX and 5' MGF-Deficient African Swine Fever Virus Mutant for Vaccine Development.

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes fatal disease in pigs and is currently spreading globally. Commercially safe vaccines are urgently required. Aiming to generate a novel live attenuated vaccine (LAV), a recombinant ASFV was generated by deleting the viral O174L (PolX) gene.

H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b dynamics in experimentally infected calves and cows.

In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.

Outcome of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in calves and lactating cows.

In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.

Rift Valley Fever Phlebovirus Reassortment Study in Sheep.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) in ungulates and humans is caused by a mosquito-borne RVF phlebovirus (RVFV). Live attenuated vaccines are used in livestock (sheep and cattle) to control RVF in endemic regions during outbreaks. The ability of two or more different RVFV strains to reassort when co-infecting a host cell is a significant veterinary and public health concern due to the potential emergence of newly reassorted viruses, since reassortment of RVFVs has been documented in nature and in experimental infection studies.

Pigs are highly susceptible to but do not transmit mink-derived highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b.

Rapid evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) is driven by antigenic drift but also by reassortment, which might result in robust replication in and transmission to mammals. Recently, spillover of clade 2.3.

Rift Valley Fever.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic viral disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and buffaloes. Rift valley fever virus (RVFV), the causative agent of RVF, can also infect humans. RVFV is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) that is primarily spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes or exposure to infected blood.

Rift Valley Fever virus M and L genome segment detection: a comparison of field-deployable reverse transcription insulated isothermal PCR (RT-iiPCR) and laboratory-based multiplex reverse transcription real-time PCR.

Unlabelled: Rift Valley Fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogen that causes major agricultural and public health problems in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is considered a potential agro-bioterrorism agent for which limited countermeasures are available. To address diagnostic needs, here we describe a rapid and sensitive molecular method immediately employable at sites of suspected outbreaks in animals that commonly precede outbreaks in humans.

ACE2 and TMPRSS2 distribution in the respiratory tract of different animal species and its correlation with SARS-CoV-2 tissue tropism.

A wide range of animal species show variable susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2; however, host factors associated with varied susceptibility remain to be defined. Here, we examined whether susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and virus tropism in different animal species are dependent on the expression and distribution of the virus receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 () and the host cell factor transmembrane serine protease 2 (). We cataloged the upper and lower respiratory tract of multiple animal species and humans in a tissue-specific manner and quantitatively evaluated the distribution and abundance of and mRNA .

Preliminary Study on the Efficacy of a Recombinant, Subunit SARS-CoV-2 Animal Vaccine against Virulent SARS-CoV-2 Challenge in Cats.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a recombinant, subunit SARS-CoV-2 animal vaccine in cats against virulent SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Two groups of cats were immunized with two doses of either a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein vaccine or a placebo, administered three weeks apart. Seven weeks after the second vaccination, both groups of cats were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 via the intranasal and oral routes simultaneously.

Experimental co-infection of calves with SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants of concern.

Since emerging in late 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has repeatedly crossed the species barrier with natural infections reported in various domestic and wild animal species. The emergence and global spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has expanded the range of susceptible host species. Previous experimental infection studies in cattle using Wuhan-like SARS-CoV-2 isolates suggested that cattle were not likely amplifying hosts for SARS-CoV-2.

Immunization of pigs with replication-incompetent adenovirus-vectored African swine fever virus multi-antigens induced humoral immune responses but no protection following contact challenge.

Introduction: African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a pathogen of great economic importance given that continues to threaten the pork industry worldwide, but there is no safe vaccine or treatment available. Development of a vaccine is feasible as immunization of pigs with some live attenuated ASFV vaccine candidates can confer protection, but safety concerns and virus scalability are challenges that must to be addressed. Identification of protective ASFV antigens is needed to inform the development of efficacious subunit vaccines.

Development of a sensitive, high-throughput extraction protocol for qPCR detection of African swine fever virus in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

African swine fever (ASF) causes fatal disease in pigs and is an escalating threat to the global swine industry. ASF has re-emerged from Africa as a transcontinental epidemic spreading through the Caucasus into Europe, Russia, China, numerous Asian countries, and the Caribbean. ASF virus (ASFV) is a U.

RT-qPCR genotyping assays for differentiating Rift Valley fever phlebovirus strains.

Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is an emerging, mosquito-borne, zoonotic pathogen. Real time RT-qPCR genotyping (GT) assays were developed to differentiate between two RVFV wild-type strains (128B-15 and SA01-1322) and a vaccine strain (MP-12). The GT assay uses a one-step RT-qPCR mix, with two different RVFV strain-specific primers (either forward or reverse) with long or short G/C tags and a common primer (either forward or reverse) for each of the 3 genomic segments.

Experimental Infection of Domestic Pigs with African Swine Fever Virus Isolated in 2019 in Mongolia.

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious viral disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), that causes high mortality in domestic swine and wild boar (). Currently, outbreaks are mitigated through strict quarantine measures and the culling of affected herds, resulting in massive economic losses to the global pork industry. In 2019, an ASFV outbreak was reported in Mongolia, describing a rapidly progressing clinical disease and gross lesions consistent with the acute form of ASF; the virus was identified as a genotype II virus.

Effects of Spike Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern on Human or Animal ACE2-Mediated Virus Entry and Neutralization.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a zoonotic agent capable of infecting humans and a wide range of animal species. Over the duration of the pandemic, mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein have arisen, culminating in the spread of several variants of concern (VOCs) with various degrees of altered virulence, transmissibility, and neutralizing antibody escape. In this study, we used pseudoviruses that express specific SARS-CoV-2 S protein substitutions and cell lines that express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) from nine different animal species to gain insights into the effects of VOC mutations on viral entry and antibody neutralization capability.

Susceptibility of sheep to experimental co-infection with the ancestral lineage of SARS-CoV-2 and its alpha variant.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for a global pandemic that has had significant impacts on human health and economies worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible and the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 in humans. A wide range of animal species have also been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 by experimental and/or natural infections.

Extension of Sylvatic Circulation of African Swine Fever Virus in Extralimital Warthogs in South Africa.

Sylvatic circulation of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in warthogs and ticks that live in warthog burrows historically occurred in northern South Africa. Outbreaks of the disease in domestic pigs originated in this region. A controlled area was declared in the north in 1935 and regulations were implemented to prevent transfer of potentially infected suids or products to the rest of the country.

Infection and transmission of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and its alpha variant in pregnant white-tailed deer.

SARS-CoV-2 was first reported circulating in human populations in December 2019 and has since become a global pandemic. Recent history involving SARS-like coronavirus outbreaks have demonstrated the significant role of intermediate hosts in viral maintenance and transmission. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection and experimental infections of a wide variety of animal species has been demonstrated, and and studies have indicated that deer are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Susceptibility of sheep to experimental co-infection with the ancestral lineage of SARS-CoV-2 and its alpha variant.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for a global pandemic that has had significant impacts on human health and economies worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible and the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. A wide range of animal species have also been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection by experimental and/or natural infections.

Effects of Spike Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern on Human or Animal ACE2-Mediated Virus Entry and Neutralization.

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic agent capable of infecting humans and a wide range of animal species. Over the duration of the pandemic, mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S) have arisen in circulating viral populations, culminating in the spread of several variants of concern (VOC) with varying degrees of altered virulence, transmissibility, and neutralizing antibody escape. In this study, we employed lentivirus-based pseudotyped viruses that express specific SARS-CoV-2 S protein substitutions and cell lines that stably express ACE2 from nine different animal species to gain insights into the effects of VOC mutations on viral entry and antibody neutralization capability.

Infection and transmission of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and its alpha variant in pregnant white-tailed deer.

SARS-CoV-2, a novel , was first reported circulating in human populations in December 2019 and has since become a global pandemic. Recent history involving SARS-like coronavirus outbreaks (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) have demonstrated the significant role of intermediate and reservoir hosts in viral maintenance and transmission cycles. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection and experimental infections of a wide variety of animal species has been demonstrated, and and studies have indicated that deer are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.