New research published in the Journal of Animal Science & Biotechnology provides exciting insight into the fight against African Swine Fever virus (ASFv). The research, a collaborative effort between the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Sungkyunkwan University, and Natural Biologics, characterized the antiviral effects of individual medium-chain fatty acids and glycerol monolaurate (GML) to inhibit ASFv in solution and in feed.

Feed and feed ingredients have recently been implicated as potential vectors of transmission and spread of ASFv. Effective feed mitigation strategies are urgently needed to reduce the risk of transboundary spread and would improve prospects for global pig production. Hence, this research was undertaken to identify regulatory-compatible, antiviral compounds that could inhibit ASFv infectivity in feed.

“Detailed biophysical studies on viral membranes and their lipid components have led to this new understanding of how GML inhibits ASFv and can be an effective feed mitigant,” said Dr. Charles Elrod, president of Natural Biologics. “The ongoing ASFv epidemic has a major impact on biosecurity efforts and swine production worldwide; this research establishes the science behind a viable opportunity to curb disease transmission.”

According to Natural Biologics, the research findings concluded that:

Download the full research study on the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology website, https://rdcu.be/cbVfJ. Learn more about the antiviral activity of GML at https://youtu.be/IbM0J-ZgHd0.

Natural Biologics was founded in 2015 out of a desire to bring innovation and scientific validation to the development of natural solutions for the many animal health challenges of today. The business is guided by three pillars; integrity, innovation and improvement. These principles steer every action and decision made within the business.