Di Liu , Lian-Feng Li  , Huanjie Zhai , Tao Wang , Jing Lan  , Mengxiang Cao , Meng Yao  , Yijing Wang , Jia Li , Xin Song , Yuan Sun , Hua-Ji Qiu 

Emerg Microbes Infect.2025 Feb 18:2469662.doi: 10.1080/22221751.2025.2469662. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and severe infectious disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). The disease significantly threatens the sustainable development of the global pig industry. Unfortunately, there are currently no safe and efficacious vaccines and antiviral agents available except in Vietnam. Antioxidative stress is a critical factor in antiviral strategies. In this study, we show that ASFV infection elevates the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppresses the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, overexpressing Nrf2 can significantly inhibit ASFV replication. Through high-throughput screening of natural small molecules against ASFV, we identify resveratrol (RES), an Nrf2 activator, as a compound capable of inducing the cellular antiviral responses and effectively inhibiting ASFV replication in primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). Notably, untargeted metabolomics profiling reveals that glutathione is the primary differential metabolite related to the antiviral activities of RES against ASFV. Mechanistically, RES exerts its antiviral effects by inducing the production of reduced glutathione (GSH) via the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway and simultaneously reducing the elevated levels of ROS caused by ASFV infection. In conclusion, RES exhibits broad efficacy as a potentially effective compound for inhibiting ASFV infection and alleviating the oxidative stress induced by ASFV infection via the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Keywords: African swine fever virus; Nrf2 signaling pathway; antiviral activity; oxidative stress; resveratrol.