Transcriptional architecture of African swine fever virus.

Nanopore sequencing reveals complex transcriptional architecture, including novel genes and modification patterns, in the large DNA virus ASFV, impacting understanding of its pathogenicity.

• Why it matters: Understanding ASFV's transcriptional complexity is crucial for developing targeted antiviral strategies, as current knowledge of its gene regulation and modifications remains limited.
• What they did: The study employed nanopore direct RNA sequencing to map transcription start and termination sites, identify six new genes, and detect RNA modifications like m6A and m5C, along with read-through events.
• The result: Findings highlight the intricate transcriptional landscape of ASFV, linking RNA modifications to transcript features, and providing insights that could guide future antiviral research and intervention development.