African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating infectious disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). The ASFV genome encodes multiple structural and non-structural proteins that contribute to evasion of host immunity. In this study, we determined that the viral non-structural protein MGF360-14L inhibits interferon-β (IFN-β) promoter activity induced by cGAS-STING signaling. MGF360-14L was also found to downregulate expression of the IRF3 protein and promote its degradation through ubiquitin-meditated proteolysis. Moreover, MGF360-14L was shown to interact with and destabilize IRF3 by facilitating E3 ligase TRIM21-mediated K63-linked ubiquitination of IRF3. Overall, our study revealed that MGF360-14L promotes degradation of IRF3 through TRIM21, thereby inhibiting type I interferon production. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying ASFV immune evasion.

Trichinellosis, which is caused by Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis), is a serious zoonosis. Pigs play an important role in the transmission of human trichinellosis. Characterizing the immune response to T. spiralis infection is key to elucidating host–parasite interactions. However, most studies on the immune response to T. spiralis infection have employed murine models. In this study, we investigated the immune response to T. spiralis infection in pigs. The results showed that the average numbers of larvae per gram (lpg) for the 100-muscle larvae (ML), 1000-ML, and 10 000-ML groups were 1.502, 35.947, and 398.811, respectively. The percentages of CD3+ T cells, B cells, CD4+ T cells, Treg cells, and Th17 cells were elevated in the infection groups compared to the control animals. In contrast, CD8+ T cell percentages were reduced after infection in the low-dose group. The number of neutrophils was increased at 3–17 days post-infection (dpi). Th1 cytokine IL-2 levels were significantly decreased at 7 dpi, and Th2 cytokine IL-4 levels were significantly elevated at 3 dpi. Treg cytokine IL-10 levels were significantly elevated between 7 dpi and 30 dpi. Th17 cytokine IL-17A levels were significantly increased beginning at 11 dpi. These results confirmed that pigs infected with T. spiralis predominantly induced Th2 and Treg immune responses, which suppress the Th1 immune responses. This study provides novel insights into the immune response of pigs infected with T. spiralis.

Background: Marek's disease virus (MDV) causes an acute lymphoproliferative disease in chickens, resulting in immunosuppression, which is considered to be an integral aspect of the pathogenesis of Marek's disease (MD). A recent study showed that deletion of the Meq gene resulted in loss of transformation of T-cells in chickens and a Meq-null virus, rMd5ΔMeq, could provide protection superior to CVI988/Rispens. Results: In the present study, to investigate whether the Meq-null virus could be a safe vaccine candidate, we constructed a Meq deletion strain, GX0101ΔMeq, by deleting both copies of the Meq gene from a pathogenic MDV, GX0101 strain, which was isolated in China. Pathogenesis experiments showed that the GX0101ΔMeq virus was fully attenuated in specific pathogen-free chickens because none of the infected chickens developed Marek's disease-associated lymphomas. The study also evaluated the effects of GX0101ΔMeq on the immune system in chickens after infection with GX0101ΔMeq virus. Immune system variables, including relative lymphoid organ weight, blood lymphocytes and antibody production following vaccination against AIV and NDV were used to assess the immune status of chickens. Experimental infection with GX0101ΔMeq showed that deletion of the Meq gene significantly decreased immunosuppression in chickens caused by pathogenic MDV. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the Meq gene played an important role not only in tumor formation but also in inducing immunosuppressive effects in MDV-infected chickens.

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a major DNA sensor. The recognition of cytosolic DNA by cGAS triggers a robust innate immune response that restricts the replication of diverse viral pathogens through the type I interferon (IFN) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large and complex DNA virus reported to strongly inhibit the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Herein, 12 ASFV structural proteins were screened to determine their effects on the cGAS-STING pathway. Ectopic expression of the ASFV caspid protein M1249L significantly inhibited the IFN-β promoter activity induced by the cGAS-STING pathway in a dose-dependent manner. And it could also downregulate the levels of IFN-β and several interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs) induced by cGAS-STING and 2'3'-cGAMP. Moreover, ASFV M1249L also suppressed phosphorylation of TBK1 by cGAS and STING overexpression. Further study showed that M1249L co-localized and interacted with interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), which led to induce IRF3 degradation by lysosomal pathway. Taken together, our study revealed a novel strategy utilized by ASFV for cGAS-STING-related immune evasion.

The Mtb9.8 antigenic protein of Mycobacterium bovis/Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been identified as a target of the T-cell response. However, the interaction of Mtb9.8 with Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the relevant signaling pathways have not been fully clarified. In this study, recombinant Mtb9.8 (rMtb9.8) derived from M. bovis-stimulated RAW264.7 cells initiated the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner. Blocking assays show that TLR2-neutralizing antibody decreases the production of TNF-α and IL-1β. Moreover, NF-κB activation is associated with TNF-α and IL-1β production by rMtb9.8 stimulation, and rMtb9.8 stimulation also induces the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 at Ser536 and its rapid nuclear translocation in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, NF-κB luciferase activity is rapidly activated in response to rMtb9.8 in RAW264.7 cells and is also significantly increased in rMtb9.8-induced HEK293-TLR2. However, these activations were abrogated in cells with a dominant-negative mutation of NF-κB p65 and by treatment with anti-TLR2 antibody. We also find that rMtb9.8 induces the activation of IRF-1. These findings indicate that M. bovis-derived rMtb9.8 activates the NF-κB pathway via TLR2 in RAW264.7 cells. In particular, it phosphorylates NF-κB p65 at Ser536 and induces nuclear translocation, thereby leading to the production of TNF-α and IL-1β, which correlates with the induction of IRF-1.