Bioscience Evidence 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 227-237 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 227 Research Insight Open Access ASFV Proteins as Drug Targets: Insights from Genomic and Proteomic Studies Haiyong Chen, Xiaofang Lin Tropical Animal Medicine Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572024, Hainan, China Corresponding email: xiaofang.lin@hitar.org Bioscience Evidence, 2024, Vol.14, No.5 doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0024 Received: 21 Aug., 2024 Accepted: 28 Sep., 2024 Published: 11 Oct., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Chen and Lin, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Chen H.Y., and Lin X.F., 2024, ASFV proteins as drug targets: insights from genomic and proteomic studies, Bioscience Evidence, 14(5): 227-237 (doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0024) Abstract The study characterizes African swine fever virus (ASFV) proteins that can serve as potential drug targets, leveraging insights from genomic and proteomic analyses. Through high-throughput proteomic analysis, several ASFV proteins, including P34, E199L, MGF360-15R, and E248R, were found to interact with key cellular pathways such as intracellular and Golgi vesicle transport, endoplasmic reticulum organization, lipid biosynthesis, and cholesterol metabolism. Notably, Rab proteins, crucial regulators of the endocytic pathway, were identified as significant interactors of P34 and E199L, suggesting their role in ASFV infection. Additionally, proteins like MGF-505-7R, MGF-360-10L, and MGF360-9L were shown to inhibit the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, thereby evading the host immune response and promoting viral virulence. The I73R protein was identified as a Z-DNA binding protein, providing structural insights that could aid in the design of targeted inhibitors. The findings highlight several ASFV proteins as critical players in the virus's ability to hijack host cellular mechanisms and evade immune responses. These proteins represent promising targets for the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines, offering new avenues for combating ASFV infections. Keywords African swine fever virus (ASFV); Drug targets; Proteomics; Genomic analysis; JAK-STAT signaling; Rab proteins; Z-DNA binding protein; Viral virulence; Antiviral strategies 1 Introduction African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) is a highly contagious and lethal virus affecting domestic and wild pigs, causing African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF is characterized by severe hemorrhagic fever, leading to high mortality rates, often reaching 100% in affected herds (Bisimwa et al., 2021; Gallardo et al., 2021). The virus belongs to the Asfarviridae family and is the only known DNA virus that can infect pigs. Since its first identification in the early 20th century, ASF has spread across various continents, including Africa, Europe, and Asia, causing significant economic losses in the swine industry (Njau et al., 2021). The control of ASF is challenging due to the absence of effective vaccines and antiviral treatments. Current control measures primarily rely on the culling of infected animals and strict biosecurity protocols (Hạnh et al., 2021). Identifying drug targets within ASFV is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate the impact of the virus. Targeting specific viral proteins can inhibit the virus's ability to replicate and spread, providing a means to control outbreaks and reduce economic losses (Minoungou et al., 2021; Senthilkumar et al., 2022). Genomic and proteomic studies play a pivotal role in understanding the molecular mechanisms of ASFV infection and identifying potential drug targets. Complete genome analyses of ASFV isolates have revealed genetic variations and mutations that can be exploited for therapeutic interventions (Rajukumar et al., 2021; Senthilkumar et al., 2022). Proteomic studies help in identifying viral proteins that are essential for the virus's life cycle, providing insights into potential targets for antiviral drugs. These studies also aid in understanding the virus's interaction with the host's immune system, which is critical for developing effective treatments (Gallardo et al., 2021; Njau et al., 2021). This research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ASFV proteins as potential drug targets, leveraging insights from genomic and proteomic studies. The objectives are to summarize the current understanding of ASFV biology and its impact on the swine industry, highlight the importance of identifying drug targets within ASFV, discuss the role of genomic and proteomic studies in uncovering potential drug targets, and present a detailed
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