The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and Pathogenesis
African swine fever virus (ASFV), the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF), poses a catastrophic threat to global swine industries through its capacity for immune subversion and rapid evolution. Multigene family genes (MGFs)-encoded proteins serve as molecular hubs governing viral evolution,...
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2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/6/865 |
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| author | Ruojia Huang Rui Luo Jing Lan Zhanhao Lu Hua-Ji Qiu Tao Wang Yuan Sun |
| author_facet | Ruojia Huang Rui Luo Jing Lan Zhanhao Lu Hua-Ji Qiu Tao Wang Yuan Sun |
| author_sort | Ruojia Huang |
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| description | African swine fever virus (ASFV), the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF), poses a catastrophic threat to global swine industries through its capacity for immune subversion and rapid evolution. Multigene family genes (MGFs)-encoded proteins serve as molecular hubs governing viral evolution, immune evasion, cell tropism, and disease pathogenesis. This review synthesizes structural and functional evidence demonstrating that MGFs-encoded proteins suppress both interferon signaling and inflammasome activation, while their genomic plasticity in variable terminal regions drives strain diversification and adaptation. Translationally, targeted deletion of immunomodulatory MGFs enables the rational design of live attenuated vaccines that improve protective efficacy while minimizing residual virulence. Moreover, hypervariable MGFs provide strain-specific signatures for PCR-based diagnostics and phylogeographic tracking, directly addressing outbreak surveillance challenges. By unifying virology with translational innovation, this review establishes MGFs as priority targets for next-generation ASF countermeasures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-74ad4b440ca64f1a9deed90047d602eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-74ad4b440ca64f1a9deed90047d602eb2025-08-20T03:29:38ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-06-0117686510.3390/v17060865The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and PathogenesisRuojia Huang0Rui Luo1Jing Lan2Zhanhao Lu3Hua-Ji Qiu4Tao Wang5Yuan Sun6State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, ChinaAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV), the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF), poses a catastrophic threat to global swine industries through its capacity for immune subversion and rapid evolution. Multigene family genes (MGFs)-encoded proteins serve as molecular hubs governing viral evolution, immune evasion, cell tropism, and disease pathogenesis. This review synthesizes structural and functional evidence demonstrating that MGFs-encoded proteins suppress both interferon signaling and inflammasome activation, while their genomic plasticity in variable terminal regions drives strain diversification and adaptation. Translationally, targeted deletion of immunomodulatory MGFs enables the rational design of live attenuated vaccines that improve protective efficacy while minimizing residual virulence. Moreover, hypervariable MGFs provide strain-specific signatures for PCR-based diagnostics and phylogeographic tracking, directly addressing outbreak surveillance challenges. By unifying virology with translational innovation, this review establishes MGFs as priority targets for next-generation ASF countermeasures.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/6/865African swine fever virusmultigene family genesvirulence-associated factorsimmunomodulatory factorscell tropismimmune evasion |
| spellingShingle | Ruojia Huang Rui Luo Jing Lan Zhanhao Lu Hua-Ji Qiu Tao Wang Yuan Sun The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and Pathogenesis Viruses African swine fever virus multigene family genes virulence-associated factors immunomodulatory factors cell tropism immune evasion |
| title | The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and Pathogenesis |
| title_full | The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and Pathogenesis |
| title_fullStr | The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and Pathogenesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and Pathogenesis |
| title_short | The Multigene Family Genes-Encoded Proteins of African Swine Fever Virus: Roles in Evolution, Cell Tropism, Immune Evasion, and Pathogenesis |
| title_sort | multigene family genes encoded proteins of african swine fever virus roles in evolution cell tropism immune evasion and pathogenesis |
| topic | African swine fever virus multigene family genes virulence-associated factors immunomodulatory factors cell tropism immune evasion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/6/865 |
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