Swine diseases, especially swine viral diseases, remain a persistent threat to global food security and the swine industry, causing significant economic losses and compromising animal welfare. The emergence of novel pathogens, such as African swine fever virus (ASFV), and the evolution of existing viruses like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), underscore the urgent need for innovative approaches to detection, prevention, and treatment. This Research Topic brings together cutting-edge studies that address critical gaps in our understanding of swine viral diseases, offering new insights into pathogenesis, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies.
Breakthroughs in rapid and sensitive diagnostics
Advances in diagnostic tools are pivotal for early disease control. Cao et al. present a CRISPR/Cas12a-based assay integrated with enzymatic recombinase amplification (ERA) for ASFV detection, achieving a sensitivity of 10 copies per reaction. This method offers a portable, field-deployable solution, crucial for resource-limited settings. Song et al. further demonstrate the utility of recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) combined with lateral flow dipsticks for Senecavirus A, enabling visual detection within 17 minutes. These studies exemplify the potential of isothermal amplification technologies to revolutionize point-of-care diagnostics.
Innovations in vaccine development
Vaccines remain the cornerstone of swine disease prevention. Chen et al. review the promise of multi-epitope vaccines, leveraging immunoinformatics to design constructs targeting conserved regions of variable pathogens like ASFV and PRRSV. Xie et al. extend this concept by evaluating recombinant adenovirus vaccines expressing GP3 and GP5 proteins of NADC34-like PRRSV, demonstrating robust humoral and cellular immune responses in pigs. These findings highlight the importance of subunit vaccines and adjuvant strategies in combating antigenically diverse viruses.
Therapeutic strategies and drug development
The identification of novel antiviral compounds is equally critical. Li et al. explore chebulinic acid’s dual inhibitory effects on PEDV entry and viral main protease, offering a natural product-based therapeutic candidate. This work underscores the potential of phytochemicals in combating coronaviruses, aligning with global efforts to discover sustainable antiviral agents.
Unveiling mechanisms of pathogens spread and resistance
A highlight of this Research Topic is the study by Jiang et al., which investigates the horizontal transmission of tigecycline resistance via the ISVsa3-ORF2-abh-tet(X4) circular intermediate in Escherichia coli from duck farms. This work highlights the role of mobile genetic elements in disseminating antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring to mitigate public health risks. Similarly, the analysis of virulence plasmids in edema disease-causing E. coli by Nemati et al. uncovers plasmid-mediated adhesion and toxin production, providing a foundation for targeted interventions against this economically devastating condition.
Looking forward: bridging gaps and fostering collaboration
-While these studies advance our knowledge, several challenges persist. The rapid evolution of viruses necessitates continuous surveillance and adaptive strategies. Future research should prioritize:
Multi-omic Approaches: Integrating genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data to unravel host-pathogen interactions and immune evasion mechanisms.
Field-Validated Solutions: Translating laboratory breakthroughs into scalable diagnostic tools and vaccines for resource-limited settings.
One Health Framework: Addressing zoonotic risks and antimicrobial resistance through collaborative efforts across veterinary and public health sectors.
CRISPR Technology: Enable swine disease research and detection to enter a deeper level of molecular and cell biology.
Microfluidics-LAMP: Make the clinical detection of swine diseases faster, more accurate and more convenient.
This Research Topic serves as a testament to the interdisciplinary nature of swine disease research. By bringing together insights from virology, immunology, and epidemiology, it paves the way for a more resilient swine industry. We extend our gratitude to all authors and reviewers for their contributions, which collectively strengthen our capacity to tackle these pressing challenges.
Statements
Author contributions
KL: Validation, Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Resources, Writing – original draft. MH: Writing – review & editing, Investigation. ZM: Validation, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.
Generative AI statement
The author(s) declare that Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript. AI is used for English language polishing.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Summary
Keywords
swine diseases, vaccine, drug, diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, mechanisms
Citation
Liu K, Hameed M and Ma Z (2025) Editorial: Viral diseases in swine. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 15:1599457. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1599457
Received
25 March 2025
Accepted
14 April 2025
Published
01 May 2025
Volume
15 - 2025
Edited by
Adel M. Talaat, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
Reviewed by
Yuanshou Zhu, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Updates
Copyright
© 2025 Liu, Hameed and Ma.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Ke Liu, keliu1982@aliyun.com
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.