On May 5–6, in Hungary, the European African Swine Fever Vaccine Research Project VAX4ASF (New Technologies for African Swine Fever Vaccines) held its second plenary meeting at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), where it announced progress on two key research initiatives.
Key Findings
Viral Immune Evasion Mechanisms: The research team identified a set of candidate genes associated with the African swine fever virus’s regulation of the host type I interferon pathway. Laboratory studies showed that these genes can influence immune signaling, providing new insights into the virus’s virulence mechanisms and identifying potential targets for the design of attenuated or replication-restricted vaccine candidates.
Screening for Protective Antigens: By analyzing the immune responses of vaccinated pigs, scientists identified a series of viral antigens recognized by the immune system, some of which were associated with protective immunity in animals surviving challenge trials. This provides a basis for prioritizing candidate antigens in future vaccine design.
Project Background
VAX4ASF is a European multinational consortium dedicated to the research and development of African swine fever (ASF) vaccines, bringing together research institutions, companies, and industry stakeholders from Europe and Africa. The project aims to integrate virology, immunology, vaccine development, diagnostic tools (DIVA testing), and epidemiological strategies to advance the establishment of a comprehensive ASF prevention and control system.
Project Coordinator Marta Sitjà of HIPRA noted that the progress showcased at this meeting reflects the effectiveness of the consortium’s cross-disciplinary collaboration. Heltai Miklós Gábor of MATE University emphasized that aligning research findings with practical needs is a core mission of the project.
Industry Implications
Since African swine fever was introduced to Europe and Asia in 2018, it has had a lasting impact on the global swine industry. Currently, there are no widely available commercial vaccines. Research progress on VAX4ASF has provided clearer molecular targets and immune response markers for vaccine development; however, further validation and integration are still required to move from laboratory discoveries to commercial products.
The consortium will continue to advance the validation of the vaccine candidate in the coming months.
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Key Findings
Viral Immune Evasion Mechanisms: The research team identified a set of candidate genes associated with the African swine fever virus’s regulation of the host type I interferon pathway. Laboratory studies showed that these genes can influence immune signaling, providing new insights into the virus’s virulence mechanisms and identifying potential targets for the design of attenuated or replication-restricted vaccine candidates.
Screening for Protective Antigens: By analyzing the immune responses of vaccinated pigs, scientists identified a series of viral antigens recognized by the immune system, some of which were associated with protective immunity in animals surviving challenge trials. This provides a basis for prioritizing candidate antigens in future vaccine design.
Project Background
VAX4ASF is a European multinational consortium dedicated to the research and development of African swine fever (ASF) vaccines, bringing together research institutions, companies, and industry stakeholders from Europe and Africa. The project aims to integrate virology, immunology, vaccine development, diagnostic tools (DIVA testing), and epidemiological strategies to advance the establishment of a comprehensive ASF prevention and control system.
Project Coordinator Marta Sitjà of HIPRA noted that the progress showcased at this meeting reflects the effectiveness of the consortium’s cross-disciplinary collaboration. Heltai Miklós Gábor of MATE University emphasized that aligning research findings with practical needs is a core mission of the project.
Industry Implications
Since African swine fever was introduced to Europe and Asia in 2018, it has had a lasting impact on the global swine industry. Currently, there are no widely available commercial vaccines. Research progress on VAX4ASF has provided clearer molecular targets and immune response markers for vaccine development; however, further validation and integration are still required to move from laboratory discoveries to commercial products.
The consortium will continue to advance the validation of the vaccine candidate in the coming months.
Disclaimer: Some of the content in these articles is sourced from the internet. The sources have been clearly cited, and all copyrights belong to the original authors. The content is provided for readers’ reference only. If you believe your rights have been infringed, please contact us promptly via the comments section so we can remove the content.