Paweł Gładysz, Małgorzata Samorek-Pieróg, Jacek Karamon, Krzysztof Rębała, Małgorzata Sulima, Dariusz Zadrożny, Anna Lass
{"title":"Genetic diversity of Echinococcus multilocularis from red foxes and humans in northern and northeastern Poland investigated using the microsatellite EmsB.","authors":"Paweł Gładysz, Małgorzata Samorek-Pieróg, Jacek Karamon, Krzysztof Rębała, Małgorzata Sulima, Dariusz Zadrożny, Anna Lass","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105843","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis (AE). We explored the diversity of EmsB profiles of E. multilocularis from red foxes and humans in northern and northeastern Poland, with a particular focus on autochthonous Asian variants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated 263 adult tapeworms from 59 red foxes hunted in selected districts of three voivodships and ten metacestodes extracted from AE patients who never visited Asia. We conducted hierarchical clustering of the obtained EmsB profiles combined with a custom Asian reference dataset and interpreted the resulting phenogram by applying the standard genetic distance threshold (GDT) of 0.08 and Dynamic Tree Cut (DTC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The GDT divided the 273 profiles into six units, with Pol-B being the most frequent (220/273, 81 %) and widespread variant. DTC grouped the profiles into three phenons (pH). Eight out of ten people got infected with the predominant variant, PH-2/Pol-B. Among the 273 samples, thirty-six (13 %) matched the Asian reference set, including metacestodes from a Lithuanian patient and a Polish patient.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Genetically extra-European variants reach as far north as Pomorskie Voivodship. They likely come from East Asia. The autochthonous AE case with an Asian profile confirms that such tapeworms have penetrated the synanthropic cycle.</p>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":" ","pages":"105843"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145294318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genomic insights into persistent infections, reinfections, and subspecies diversity of Mycobacteroides abscessus: A whole-genome sequencing study of Thai and global isolates","authors":"Kanwara Trisakul , Auttawit Sirichoat , Arnone Nithichanon , Suwatchareeporn Rotcheewaphan , Jody Phelan , Taane G. Clark , Kiatichai Faksri","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105838","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105838","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Mycobacteroides abscessus</em> is a highly resistant pathogen with significant genetic diversity and complicating clinical management. This study used whole-genome sequencing to analyze genomic variations in seven serially collected isolates from three Thai patients, distinguishing between persistent infections and reinfections. Comparative analysis with 43 global isolates revealed subspecies-specific genetic diversity and distribution patterns. Among Thai isolates, two paired samples (P7.1-P7.2 and P15.1-P15.2) were persistent infections (same clone), while two (P8.1-P8.2 and P15.2-P15.3) were reinfections (different clones). Genome-wide comparisons revealed depth distribution patterns and gene cluster variations among different clones, whereas minimal divergence was observed within persistent infections. Although initial pan-genome analysis identified unique genes in same-clone pairs (P7.1 vs. P7.2 and P15.1 vs. P15.2), further validation using raw read mapping confirmed these genes were not truly unique. Analysis of global isolates showed subspecies-specific genetic variations. <em>M. abscessus</em> subsp. <em>abscessus</em> (MAB) and <em>M. abscessus</em> subsp. <em>massiliense</em> (MMAS) exhibited distinct genotypically drug resistance profiles, with unique core genes linked to adaptation and resistance mechanisms. STRING analysis identified 42 unique core genes in MAB, with 11 gene interactions—<em>truB</em>, <em>prmC_2</em>, and <em>aguA_2</em> showing the highest interaction scores. In contrast, MMAS had 11 unique core genes with a single interaction between <em>lgrD_4</em> and <em>rnc</em>. Subsequent validation using NCBI BLAST showed only <em>fmt_2</em> and <em>aguA_2</em> were truly unique to MAB. This study provides new insights into the genomic evolution of <em>M. abscessus</em> during persistent and reinfections and genetic variation among subspecies. The findings enhance understanding of <em>M. abscessus</em> epidemiology and may inform therapeutic and infection control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 105838"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145260221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mari Ishida , Takao Irie , Ryusei Tanaka , Haruhiko Maruyama , Ayako Yoshida
{"title":"Transcriptome analysis reveals the gene expression changes in Strongyloides ratti tissue-migrating larvae","authors":"Mari Ishida , Takao Irie , Ryusei Tanaka , Haruhiko Maruyama , Ayako Yoshida","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105839","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105839","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Strongyloides ratti</em> is an intestinal nematode commonly found in rats. Unlike other <em>Strongyloides</em> species, the tissue-migrating third-stage larvae in <em>S. ratti</em> follow a unique route of invasion via the nasofrontal region before reaching the gut. Despite its importance in host invasion, the transcriptomic profile of this larval stage has not been characterized. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to examine gene expression in head-derived tissue-migrating third-stage larvae (hL3) and infective third-stage larvae (iL3) of the <em>S. ratti</em> Tokyo strain. hL3 were collected from rat heads at 30 h post-infection. Differential expression analysis revealed 664 upregulated genes in hL3. Functional annotation showed enrichment of genes encoding astacin metalloproteases and sperm-coating protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 (SCP/TAPS) protein families—both associated with tissue invasion and immune modulation. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate selected differentially expressed genes. Seven hL3-specific astacin genes were identified, of which six belonged to the M12A group. One hL3-specific astacin gene showed domain similarity to strongylastacin, a known tissue-penetration protein. Two SCP/TAPS genes were unique to hL3 and were absent from parasitic females, suggesting distinct roles in larval migration. By contrast, G protein-coupled receptor genes, particularly those related to chemosensory functions, were not upregulated in hL3, indicating that these pathways may be less important during this stage. These results provide the first transcriptomic profile of hL3 in <em>S. ratti</em>, and identify potential molecular mechanisms driving larval migration and immune evasion during host infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 105839"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145260277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanying Feng, Qiheng Yuan, Yutong Kang, Meiqin Zheng, Zhenjun Li
{"title":"Deciphering the mobility, pathogenic hosts, and co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes in untreated wastewater from three different hospitals.","authors":"Yanying Feng, Qiheng Yuan, Yutong Kang, Meiqin Zheng, Zhenjun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105840","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105840","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in hospital wastewater pose significant environmental and public health risks, yet the co-selection mechanisms involving metal/biocide resistance genes (MRGs/BRGs) and the role of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the abundance, mobility, pathogenic hosts, and co-selection patterns of ARGs, MRGs, and BRGs in untreated wastewater from three types of hospitals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Untreated wastewater samples from nine sources across three hospital types (general, traditional Chinese medicine, and dental) were analyzed using metagenomic sequencing and assembly. ARGs, MRGs, and BRGs were identified via the SARG and BacMet databases. ARG hosts, mobility, and MGE co-occurrence were analyzed using PlasFlow and MOB-suite, with risk levels evaluated alongside pathogenic bacteria databases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1911 ARGs (222 subtypes), 1662 MRGs (167 subtypes), and 916 BRGs (139 subtypes) were detected. Tetracycline, multidrug, and β-lactam resistance genes were predominant, with 46.43 % of ARGs being plasmid-associated. Key pathogens including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus spp. harbored high-risk ARGs such as KPC-2 and NDM-1. Notably, 76.2 % of ARGs in traditional Chinese medicine hospital wastewater were classified as high-risk. Significant co-occurrence of ARGs with MGEs (e.g., DDE recombinases) and MRGs/BRGs was observed, underscoring the role of horizontal gene transfer and co-selection.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Untreated hospital wastewater represents a significant reservoir of ARGs, with risks exacerbated by pathogenic hosts, MGE-mediated HGT, and metal/biocide co-selection. These findings underscore the urgent need for optimized wastewater treatment strategies to curb the spread of antibiotic resistance and inform future intervention efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":" ","pages":"105840"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145260192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Postbiotics and extracellular vesicles: Mechanisms of action and clinical promise in respiratory infections and inflammation","authors":"Manouchehr Fadaee , Danial Mahrooghi , Masoud Lahouty , Shahram Abdoli Oskouei , Javad Nezhadi","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105837","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105837","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postbiotics are bioactive metabolites and structural components derived from probiotic microorganisms that exert health benefits without the requirement for live bacteria. These include short-chain fatty acids, peptides, polysaccharides, and bacterial cell wall fragments, all of which demonstrate immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Compared with probiotics, postbiotics are more stable, safer, and increasingly recognized as potential therapeutic agents. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by probiotics have likewise emerged as important mediators of host–microbe interactions. In respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, influenza, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, and allergic rhinitis, postbiotics strengthen epithelial barriers, regulate immune responses, disrupt pathogenic biofilms, and enhance the effectiveness of conventional therapies. Their capacity to influence the gut–lung axis further extends their benefits beyond the respiratory system, contributing to systemic immune balance and microbiota homeostasis. Moreover, postbiotics show potential in mitigating antimicrobial resistance by selectively targeting pathogens while preserving commensal microbes. Taken together, the safety, versatility, and therapeutic promise of postbiotics highlight their potential as adjuncts to standard treatments and as innovative strategies for infection control and respiratory health management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 105837"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Meta-analysis of genetic diversity of VP1 gene of foot and mouth disease virus serotypes prevalent in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2024","authors":"Md. Abdur Rahman , Farah Zereen , Md. Al-Amin , Md. Golzar Hossain , Jahangir Alam , Masaru Shimada , Md. Tanvir Rahman , Sukumar Saha","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a transboundary viral disease caused by the Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), which is classified into seven serotypes (A, O, C, Asia 1, SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3) within the Picornaviridae family and Aphthovirus genus that affects both wild and domesticated cloven-hoofed animals, leading to high morbidity and substantial economic losses. In Bangladesh, three serotypes of FMDV: O, A, and Asia 1 predominantly affect cattle, remarkably more than one serotype in each year. Disease prevention relies on vaccination against the prevalent serotypes. However, despite extensive vaccination efforts, FMD outbreaks continue to occur due to high variability in FMDV, particularly of the VP1 gene, which gives rise to new variants and complicates control strategies. This review aims to Meta-analyze the epidemiological characteristics and functional divergence of prevalent FMDV serotypes in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2024 by examining their evolutionary history and dynamics based on partial VP1 gene sequences retrieved from NCBI GenBank database. It explores the FMDV serotypes, host, ecology, annual prevalence, sequence length, antigenic regions, evolutionary relationships, genotypes, and divergence, as well as amino acid variables in the B<img>C loop, G-H loop and C-terminus region of the VP1 gene of prevalent FMDV serotypes. Additionally, the study addresses the similarity of currently used FMDV vaccine strains` VP1 amino acid sequences compare to VP1 amino acid sequence of prevalent FMDV serotypes, underscoring the need for updated vaccines that target circulating strains for effective disease control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 105835"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145226207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Detection of alphacoronaviruses in Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in Ehime, Japan.","authors":"Hirohito Ogawa, Ryusei Kuwata, Shumpei Watanabe, Atsushi Nakamoto, Shuji Yachimori, Makoto Takeishi, Ryota Niino, Haruhiko Isawa, Ken Maeda, Yasuhiro Yoshikawa","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105809","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bats are suspected reservoirs for several emerging viruses, including coronaviruses. Here, we report the detection of coronaviruses in the insectivorous bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, in Ehime Prefecture, located in Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial sequence of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene revealed that alphacoronaviruses have circulated throughout Ehime. Additionally, the near whole-genome sequence of the identified virus (EhRf2310-18) was closely related to that of BtRf-alphaCoV/HuB2013 identified in R. ferrumequinum in China (93.062 % overall nucleotide identity), indicating that bat coronaviruses circulating in Ehime belong to the Decacovirus subgenus of Alphacoronavirus. Alphacoronaviruses in R. ferrumequinum may be strongly adapted to this species, and are distributed across a wide area between Ehime and China.</p>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":" ","pages":"105809"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144785981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molecular characterization and clinical insights into feline chaphamaparvovirus (FeChPV) in cats from Thailand","authors":"Aisyah Nikmatuz Zahro , Panida Poonsin , Tanit Kasantikul , Chutchai Piewbang , Somporn Techangamsuwan","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105836","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105836","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Feline chaphamaparvovirus (FeChPV) is a recently discovered parvovirus in cats that is linked to respiratory and enteric diseases. Notably, FeChPV is also detected in healthy cats, warranting further investigation into its clinical significance. This study aimed to assess the presence of FeChPV in cats across Thailand while also exploring its genetic characteristics through phylogenetic, recombination, and selective pressure analyses. Molecular investigations were performed on oropharyngeal swabs from both healthy (<em>n</em> = 165) and diseased (<em>n</em> = 167) cats. The findings revealed an FeChPV detection rate of 10.2 % (34/332), with the virus detected in both healthy (9.1 %, 15/165) and diseased cats (11.4 %, 19/167). However, no significant association was observed between these conditions and the presence of FeChPV (<em>p</em> = 0.5879). Among the FeChPV-positive cases, 61.8 % (21/34) exhibited concurrent detection with common feline viruses. Apart from oropharyngeal swab samples, FeChPV was also detected in additional clinical samples, including nasal swabs, auricular swabs, rectal swabs, and urine samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete coding sequence indicated that most FeChPV strains in this study clustered into a single clade, except for BKK052 and CB050. Two recombinant strains (C14 and HF2) from China were found, in which FeChPV CB050 Thai strain served as putative minor and major parents, respectively. The <em>NS1</em> and <em>VP1</em> codon sequences underwent negative selective pressure, with multiple positive selection sites observed. Although a specific disease associated with FeChPV infection could not be concluded, underlying health conditions may increase susceptibility to FeChPV infection. Further research is essential to comprehensively understand the role of this virus in feline health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 105836"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145208293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single-cell RNA sequencing in high-burden viral respiratory infections: Decoding immune cell subsets and immune-related differential gene expression","authors":"Milad Sheervalilou, Mostafa Ghanei, Masoud Arabfard","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105834","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105834","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Respiratory infections remain a major global health burden, ranking among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a transformative technology for dissecting the cellular and molecular complexity of these infections. This review focuses on recent scRNA-seq studies investigating the immune landscape of high-burden viral respiratory infections, particularly COVID-19 and influenza, which are characterized by high transmissibility and clinical impact. We provide an overview of publicly available scRNA-seq datasets derived from human peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), as well as lung tissues and explants from murine models, emphasizing their value in profiling immune heterogeneity. scRNA-seq has revealed significant remodeling of immune cell populations during infection, including the identification of novel subsets such as CD4<sup>+</sup> c13-MKI67<sup>+</sup> CCL5<sup>low</sup> T cells, CD8<sup>+</sup> CXCR3<sup>high</sup> GZMA<sup>+</sup> T cells, and CD56<sup>high</sup> CD16<sup>−</sup> GZMB<sup>+</sup> NK cells. These subsets are frequently associated with differential expression of cytokines, chemokines, and interferon-stimulated genes that reflect disease severity and progression. In addition, scRNA-seq has highlighted key pathogen-induced pathways, including type I interferon, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT signaling, and has identified emerging immune-related biomarkers—such as PTX3, MCEMP1, CXCR4, IFIT1, ISG15, and STAT1—with potential diagnostic and prognostic utility. While scRNA-seq applications in respiratory infections of other microbial origins are limited, its role in mapping immune responses and guiding biomarker discovery in viral infections is rapidly expanding. This review synthesizes these findings to inform future translational research and immunodiagnostic strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 105834"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Van Dam Lai , Yong-kwan Kim , Min-Ho Kim , Yeeun Moon , Hyeok-Il Kwon , Weon-hwa Jheong , Jong-Soo Lee , Sung-Sik Yoo , In Pil Mo
{"title":"Analysis of novel African swine fever variants circulating in wild boars in South Korea isolated in 2021 by deep sequencing","authors":"Van Dam Lai , Yong-kwan Kim , Min-Ho Kim , Yeeun Moon , Hyeok-Il Kwon , Weon-hwa Jheong , Jong-Soo Lee , Sung-Sik Yoo , In Pil Mo","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>African swine fever (ASF) is major infectious disease of concern currently circulating in swine species, causing high mortality and significant economic damage on the global scale. Since the first incident of ASF outbreak in Korea in 2019, the disease has continued to spread throughout the country despite enhanced biosecurity measures, with wild boars playing a key role. Thus, characterizing the domestic African swine fever virus (ASFV) strains including its genetic variants is crucial for both monitoring and diagnostic purposes. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the full genome of seven Korean ASFV strains isolated from ASFV positive wild boar samples collected in 2021 from various regions. The sequences were compared with previously isolated ASFV strains to track the origin and the evolutionary trend of the ASFV variants residing in the wild boar population in Korea. A total of thirty single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected which consists of ten synonymous and eighteen non-synonymous mutations, a single mutation at intergenic region (IGR), and a truncation mutation which led to a premature stop codon. Out of the mutations, thirteen were present in the MGF 505-9R gene. All seven strains contained an additional ten-nucleotides (nt) long tandem repeat sequence (TRS) between the I73R and I179L gene, similar to strains previously studied in Korea. Additionally, a new seventeen-nt long tandem repeat sequence insertion, adjacent to the MGF 505-10R, has been observed at the IGR between the MGF 505-9R and 10R genes. The results of the study provide extra insight for characterizing the ASFV virus in Korea and suggesting new molecular genetic markers for epidemiological monitoring, thus minimizing the risk of new ASF outbreaks in Korea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 105833"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145121163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}