Scientists from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) say they have developed a reverse genetics system for African swine fever virus (ASFV).
The team published its study, “A synthetic genomics-based African swine fever virus engineering platform,” in Science Advances.
The new system is expected to aid researchers in developing vaccines and in studying the pathogenesis and biology of ASFV, a highly contagious, deadly viral disease affecting domesticated and wild pigs, especially prevalent in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.
A recent study estimates if ASFV reached the United States it could result in economic losses exceeding $50 billion over a ten-year period.
Sanjay Vashee, PhD, JCVI, senior author…