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Updated: Jun 15, 2025
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
Published on: December 29, 2015
A novel live DNA tagging system for African swine fever virus shows that bisbenzimide Hoechst 33342 can effectively
Veronica Martin1, Beatriz Guerra1, Bruno Hernaez2
1Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28130, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection causes a frequently fatal disease in domestic swine that has affected more than 50 countries worldwide since 2021, with a major impact on animal welfare and economy. The development of effective vaccines or antivirals against this disease are urgently required for its effective control. Live detection of viral replication has been used as a tool for the screening and characterization of antiviral compounds in other dsDNA genome containing viruses. Here, we have adapted the ANCHOR fluorescent DNA labelling system to ASFV by constructing and characterizing a novel recombinant virus. We show that this virus is viable and effectively tags viral DNA replication sites, which can be detected and quantified in real time. Further, we have used high content cell microscopy to test the antiviral activity of bisbenzimide compounds and show that Hoechst 33342 has specific anti-ASFV activity. We expect this novel tool to be useful both in the further study of ASFV replication as in the screening of new specific antiviral compounds.
