Published in PLOS One on 2026-07-23, this study is presented as an attributed evidence briefing. The excerpts below are the original researchers’ words, reproduced under their Creative Commons Attribution licence. Health Signal has selected the abstract and, where needed, opening background paragraphs; the complete methods, results, limitations and references remain in the linked paper.
Original authors: Sieun Kim, Eun Bae Kim
Source: PLOS One • DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0354143
Read the complete primary study ↗ · Creative Commons Attribution licence
From the researchers
Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly lethal pathogen that causes African swine fever (ASF) and is found in Africa, Europe, and Asia. In addition, extensive regional genetic variation poses significant challenges for vaccine development. In this study, we aimed to identify amino acid sequence fragments that are commonly enriched within ASFV strains from each country and evaluate their potential as epitopes. Amino acid sequences of genomes were segmented into overlapping 9-, 12-, 15-, and 20-mer peptides; selected fragments enriched in countries with at least ten available genomes; and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), helper T lymphocyte (HTL), and linear B lymphocyte (LBL) epitope predictions, followed by antigenicity assessment. Genomes from Italy yielded the highest number of fragments across all peptide lengths, whereas those from Russia showed a unique pattern in which fragment counts decreased as peptide length increased. From the five countries analyzed, 136 CTL, 95 HTL, and 97 LBL candidate epitopes were identified, of which 39 CTL, 18 HTL, and 75 LBL epitopes were predicted to be antigenic. The identified epitopes originated from structural (n = 24), replication/transcription (n = 11), and multigene family (n = 38) proteins. The resulting epitope library provides a comprehensive resource for the selection of multi target vaccines and diagnostic candidates. These findings provide a foundation for the design of region-specific vaccines and can be broadly applied for the future development of ASFV vaccines and diagnostic tools.
Introduction
African swine fever (ASF) has recently gained worldwide attention as a serious threat to the livestock and wildlife industries [1]. The disease affects wild boars and domestic pigs, causes high fever, vomiting, and other clinical signs, and is characterized by a very high mortality rate [2]. These pathological outcomes are caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), a double-stranded DNA virus with a genome size of approximately 170–194 kb [3].
Based on genetic analysis, 24 ASFV genotypes have been identified, with genotypes I and II responsible for most of the documented spread [4]. Genotype I was once widespread across Europe. However, apart from Italy, it has now been eradicated in nearly all European countries [5]. Genotype II, initially confined to Africa, rapidly spread to Europe and Russia after being first detected in Georgia in 2007 [6]. In 2018, genotype II entered China and began spreading throughout Asia; ongoing outbreaks have been reported across Europe, Asia, and Africa [7].
Since the 1960s, numerous studies have attempted to develop vaccines against ASFV. However, a commercially available vaccine has yet to be developed. This situation contrasts sharply with other DNA‐virus infections, such as smallpox, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus, for which effective vaccines have successfully prevented disease [8]. The major obstacle is the structural complexity of ASFV, which encodes an extensive repertoire of proteins, many of which are dedicated to immune evasion, thereby undermining conventional vaccine approaches [9].
Reading this evidence
Use the full paper to check the study design, participant selection, comparator and outcome definitions before drawing a practical conclusion. An association does not by itself show cause and effect. A reported performance measure needs its denominator and uncertainty. A finding from a particular facility, sample or time period should retain that scope when it is discussed elsewhere.
This briefing makes the source accessible within the wider technology & industry desk. It does not assess an individual patient or certify a product. When considering relevance to another health system, examine the original authors’ account of context and limitations, then seek local implementation evidence. The related reporting below provides other studies to read alongside this one; it is a topic connection, rather than a claim that their results are directly comparable.
© 2026 Sieun Kim, Eun Bae Kim. Excerpts reproduced under CC BY. Selection, formatting and contextual notes by Health Signal. The researchers are the authors of the source study, not members of Health Signal’s staff.
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