ASFVInt: Decoding a Virus Achilles Heel

Following an application for research funding under the EU ICRAD ERA-NET scheme, the Authority is awarding a Contract to The Pirbright Institute for a research project. This project aims to support novel intervention strategies to combat African swine fever (ASF), a viral haemorrhagic fever of domestic pigs that is spreading across Europe, Asia and Africa. There is no vaccine or treatment against ASF and the disease can only be controlled by rapid diagnosis, quarantine and slaughter of affected herds. Introduction of ASF into the UK would inevitably lead to a loss of international trade as well as significantly impacting domestic production. ASF is caused by a complex virus, African swine fever virus (ASFV), that encodes for more than 150 different genes and part of the reason for the lack of treatments is our poor understanding of the role of these genes during the virus life cycle. Identification of the mechanisms by which ASFV manipulates cellular pathways to aid its replication, and evade host immune responses, will support vaccine design and identify potential targets for antiviral therapies.