Study of the pathogenesis (role of host receptors) of African Swine Fever (ASF) and innate immune response in ASF virus infected domestic pigs (ASFIMMUNE)

The following research questions will be addressed:

1. ASFV has a strict tropism for differentiated macrophages. From our experience with PRRSV, it became clear that the
transmission and virulence/pathogenicity is fully determined by the different subpopulations of macrophages that are infected. It will now be examined which subpopulations of macrophages are infected by ASFV and what the impact is on the horizontal and vertical transmission and virulence/pathogenicity. In addition, this work will allow to direct the construction of new generation attenuated vaccines.

2. What are the mechanisms involved in the innate immune response at the moment of infection? Can the virus evasion be
explained by cytokine impaired balance or different leukocyte recruitment compared to other viruses for which vaccination is
effective (for example Aujeszky disease)? A better understanding of the innate system could further help to develop future vaccines.