Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studies

Abstract African swine fever virus (ASFV), the causative agent of African swine fever, is a fatal haemorrhagic virus affecting domestic pigs and wild boars. The primary target cells for ASFV infection are porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs); however, PAM isolation and maintenance are technically cha...

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Main Authors: Eun-Gyeong Lee, Sang-Min Kang, Dongseob Tark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Veterinary Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01543-7
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author Eun-Gyeong Lee
Sang-Min Kang
Dongseob Tark
author_facet Eun-Gyeong Lee
Sang-Min Kang
Dongseob Tark
author_sort Eun-Gyeong Lee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract African swine fever virus (ASFV), the causative agent of African swine fever, is a fatal haemorrhagic virus affecting domestic pigs and wild boars. The primary target cells for ASFV infection are porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs); however, PAM isolation and maintenance are technically challenging, and genetic manipulation of these cells is difficult. The lack of suitable cell lines that support ASFV infection and replication has significantly hindered vaccine development. This study aimed to overcome these limitations and advance ASFV research. The results demonstrate that the foetal porcine kidney cells (LFBK) are suitable for ASFV studies. We observed that ASFV replicated significantly more efficiently in LFBK cells than in PAMs. Furthermore, LFBK cells exhibited antiviral immune responses similar to PAMs following ASFV infection or DNA analog. These findings suggest that the LFBK cell line could provide a much-needed platform for studying ASFV replication and pathogenesis while serving as a valuable tool for understanding ASFV-induced immune mechanisms.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1297-9716
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Veterinary Research
spelling doaj-art-18433bb375154184a539a22444ec0ee62025-08-20T03:43:15ZengBMCVeterinary Research1297-97162025-06-0156111110.1186/s13567-025-01543-7Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studiesEun-Gyeong Lee0Sang-Min Kang1Dongseob Tark2Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention, Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National UniversityLaboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention, Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National UniversityLaboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention, Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National UniversityAbstract African swine fever virus (ASFV), the causative agent of African swine fever, is a fatal haemorrhagic virus affecting domestic pigs and wild boars. The primary target cells for ASFV infection are porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs); however, PAM isolation and maintenance are technically challenging, and genetic manipulation of these cells is difficult. The lack of suitable cell lines that support ASFV infection and replication has significantly hindered vaccine development. This study aimed to overcome these limitations and advance ASFV research. The results demonstrate that the foetal porcine kidney cells (LFBK) are suitable for ASFV studies. We observed that ASFV replicated significantly more efficiently in LFBK cells than in PAMs. Furthermore, LFBK cells exhibited antiviral immune responses similar to PAMs following ASFV infection or DNA analog. These findings suggest that the LFBK cell line could provide a much-needed platform for studying ASFV replication and pathogenesis while serving as a valuable tool for understanding ASFV-induced immune mechanisms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01543-7ASFVLFBKPAMsType I IFNsuitable cell line
spellingShingle Eun-Gyeong Lee
Sang-Min Kang
Dongseob Tark
Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studies
Veterinary Research
ASFV
LFBK
PAMs
Type I IFN
suitable cell line
title Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studies
title_full Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studies
title_fullStr Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studies
title_full_unstemmed Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studies
title_short Highly suitable LFBK cells for African swine fever virus replication and type I interferon-induced immune studies
title_sort highly suitable lfbk cells for african swine fever virus replication and type i interferon induced immune studies
topic ASFV
LFBK
PAMs
Type I IFN
suitable cell line
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01543-7
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AT dongseobtark highlysuitablelfbkcellsforafricanswinefevervirusreplicationandtypeiinterferoninducedimmunestudies