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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #422317
Research Project: Defining the Impact of Different Foods or Their Components, in the Context of A Western-Style Diet, on Gut Health

Location: Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory

Title: Chapter four - Swine model of Bundibunyo and Reston virus infection reveals a robust immune response following the infection: A multi-tissue immune profiling study

Author
item JI-YOUNG, KIM - Canadian Food Inspection Agency-National Centre For Foreign Animal Disease
item LEWIS, CHARLES - Iowa State University
item PINETTE, MATHLEU - Public Health Agency Of Canada
item Dawson, Harry
item LUNG, OLIVER - Canadian Food Inspection Agency-National Centre For Foreign Animal Disease
item MCGILL, JODI - Iowa State University
item PICKERING, BRADLEY - University Of Manitoba

Submitted to: Advances in Virus Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/4/2025
Publication Date: 7/26/2025
Citation: Ji-Young, K.V., Lewis, C.E., Pinette, M., Dawson, H.D., Lung, O., Mcgill, J., Pickering, B.S. 2025. Chapter Four - Swine model of Bundibunyo and Reston virus infection reveals a robust immune response following the infection: A multi-tissue immune profiling study. Advances in Virus Research. 122:79-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.002

Interpretive Summary: Domestic pigs play a key role in the global food supply. As pig farming grows, it may increase the risk of diseases spreading, including ebolaviruses. In past studies, we found that certain ebolaviruses caused only mild symptoms in pigs, like slight fever or minor breathing problems, with most pigs showing no signs of being sick. In this study, we looked at how pigs’ immune systems responded to 2 different ebolaviruses. There weren’t major differences in infection-related gene induction between the 2 viruses and we observed a strong immune response in the lungs and nearby lymph nodes. When comparing this to studies in monkeys, where the same virus is deadly, we found some similarities in gene activity. These findings suggest pigs could be a useful model for studying how ebolaviruses adapt and spread between species. Understanding how livestock play a role in the spread of such diseases can help us create better prevention and control strategies.

Technical Abstract: Domestic pigs are a vital component of the global food supply, with a population nearing 780 million worldwide, making them one of the most commonly raised livestock. As pig production intensifies, the associated practices and environmental conditions may elevate the risk of emergence and spread of infectious diseases, including ebolaviruses. Previously, we demonstrated that Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense and Orthoebolavirus restonense largely caused sub-clinical signs in pigs, with only a few animals exhibiting elevated temperatures and limited signs of acute respiratory distress. In this study, we sought to identify any immune-related gene changes following those viral infections in pigs. Our findings revealed no significant changes in infection- and inflammation-related cytokines, but a strong adaptive immune response was observed in the lungs and tracheobronchial lymph nodes. Comparative analysis with a Bundibugyo virus study in non-human primates, where the virus is lethal, revealed molecular similarities in gene expression, suggesting that certain viral processes may be conserved across species. These results highlight the potential of pigs as a target-host model for studying ebolavirus spillover dynamics and species adaptation, and underscore the importance of understanding the role of livestock in the emergence of these pathogens to guide prevention and mitigation strategies.