Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, pharmaceutical companies and researchers worldwide have worked hard to develop vaccines and drugs to end the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The potential pathogen responsible for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2, belongs to a novel lineage of beta coronaviruses in the subgenus arbovirus. Antiviral drugs, convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines are effective treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and are beneficial in preventing infection. Numerous studies have already been conducted using the genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with that of other SARS-like viruses, and numerous treatments/prevention measures are currently undergoing or have already undergone clinical trials. We summarize these studies in depth in the hopes of highlighting some key details that will help us to better understand the viral origin, epidemiology, and treatments of the virus.

African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious and lethal viral disease, continues to devastate the global swine industry. The emergence of ASF virus (ASFV) variants with varying genomic deletions poses significant challenges for ASF control. This study presents a novel, sensitive, and reliable quadplex real-time PCR assay for detecting ASFV variants lacking key genes (I177L, EP402R, and MGF360-14L), either individually or in combination. The assay targets conserved regions within these genes, ensuring broad coverage of diverse ASFV genotypes. A porcine beta-actin (ACTB) internal control was incorporated to minimize false-negative results. Optimization and evaluation using spike-in tests demonstrated high sensitivity, with a limit of detection (LOD) ranging from 1 to 10 plasmid copies or 0.1 TCID₅₀ of ASFV isolates per reaction. No cross-reactivity was observed when testing serum samples from pigs infected with other common swine viruses. Further validation across a diverse panel of samples, including those from naturally ASFV-infected field pigs (n = 54), experimentally ASFV-infected pigs (n = 50), PBS-inoculated pigs (n = 50), ASFV-free field pigs (n = 100), and feral pigs (n = 6), confirmed 100% specificity. This robust assay provides a valuable tool for rapid and accurate ASF surveillance and control efforts, facilitating the timely detection and mitigation of outbreaks caused by emerging ASFV variants.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health concern, and the use of antibiotics in livestock, including swine production, is a major contributor. Vaccines offer a promising alternative for controlling bacterial infections in pigs, but their widespread use is often hindered by biological, economic, and practical challenges. This study surveyed U.S. swine veterinarians to identify which bacterial diseases re-quire better vaccines and to understand the barriers to their adoption. Nineteen vet-erinarians with an average of 24.7 years of experience were surveyed across 21 states. The results identified Streptococcus suis, Escherichia coli, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and Glaesserella parasuis as the most critical pathogens needing improved vaccines. Veter-inarians anticipated significant improvements in vaccine efficacy for S. suis and E. coli during the nursery stage and expressed a willingness to pay 1.8 and 1.9 times their current prices, respectively. While expectations for M. hyo vaccine improvements were not significant, veterinarians expressed the highest willingness to pay (4.2 times the current price), citing the potential for disease eradication. This research highlights that developing effective vaccines for S. suis and E. coli should be the most urgent priority due to their significant economic impact and rising AMR concerns. However, M. hyo vaccine development holds the most economic potential due to the possibility of erad-ication. Our research provides a roadmap for future efforts to combat AMR in the swine industry, emphasizing key economic, policy, and educational considerations for successful vaccine implementation.