Differential Effect of Deleting Members of African Swine Fever Virus Multigene Families 360 and 505 from the Genotype II Georgia 2007/1 Isolate on Virus Replication, Virulence, and Induction of Protection
Anusyah Rathakrishnan, Samuel Connell, Vlad Petrovan, Katy Moffat, Lynnette C. Goatley, Tamara Jabbar, Pedro J. Sánchez‐Cordón, Ana Luísa Reis, Linda K. Dixon
Abstract
African swine fever has a high socioeconomic impact and no vaccines to aid control. The African swine fever virus (ASFV) has many genes that inhibit the host's interferon response. These include related genes that are grouped into multigene families, including MGF360 and 505. Here, we investigated which MGF360 and 505 genes were most important for viral attenuation and protection against genotype II strains circulating in Europe and Asia. We compared viruses with deletions of MGF genes. Deletion of just two MGF genes in combination with a third gene, K145R, a possible marker for vaccination, is sufficient for virus attenuation in pigs. Deletion of additional MGF360 genes was required to induce higher levels of protection. Furthermore, we showed that the deletion of MGF360-12L, combined with K145R, impairs virus replication in macrophages in culture. Our results have important implications for understanding the roles of the ASFV MGF genes and for vaccine development.