[Lipids from the African swine fever virus]

The lipids of highly purified african swine fever virus (ASFV) propagated in porcine bone marrow cells were observed to contain 25.6% phospholipids, 9.7% monoglycerides, 14.1% cholesterol, 17.8% free fatty acids, 14.4% diglycerides, 13.6% triglycerides, and 6.7% cholesterol ethers. Diethyl ether extracts mono-, di-, triglycerides, free fatty acids, 50% of cholesterol and cholesterol ethers, and 25% of phospholipids from the virus. Analysis of the 14C-sodiumacetate incorporation into viral, cellular and plasmatic membrane lipids has shown that (a) different strains of ATV ASFV have identical composition; (b) viral lipid composition is determined by lipid composition of the infected cells plasmatic membrane; (c) the viral lipid composition is influenced by cells used for propagation of the ASFV.