Summary African swine fever was introduced into China in August 2018 and led to high mortality in domestic pigs. We reported the genome characterization of the China/2018/AnhuiXCGQ strain mainly based on next‐generation sequencing and comparison with related European p72 Genotype II strains. The genome was 189,393 bp long, encoding 181 open reading frames. Pair‐wise genome sequence comparison revealed 54–107 variation sites between China/2018/AnhuiXCGQ and the other genotype II virulent strains contributing to the change of expression or alteration of amino acid residues in 10–38 genes. China/2018/AnhuiXCGQ strain shared the highest similarity with POL/2015/Podlaskie strain. Phylogenetic analysis based on a 125 kb long conserved central region revealed that the China/2018/AnhuiXCGQ strain and four European genotype II strains were grouped into three clusters. This study expanded our knowledge on the genetic diversity and evolution of ASFV and provided valuable information for diagnosis improvement and vaccine development.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF). The virus causes an acute highly hemorrhagic disease in domestic pigs, with high mortality. Although the overall genome mutation rate of ASFV, a large DNA virus, is relatively low, ASFV exhibits genetic and antigenic diversity. ASFV can be classified into 24 genotypes on the basis of the B646L gene. Cross-protected ASFV strains can be divided into eight serogroups on the basis of antibodymediated hemadsorption inhibition. Here, we review research progress on ASFV genotyping and serogrouping, and explain how this information assists in the rapid identification of virus origin during ASF outbreaks and will aid in the development of ASF vaccines.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal and contagious disease of domestic pigs and wild boars. There is still no credible commercially available vaccine. The only existing one, issued in Vietnam, is actually used in limited quantities in limited areas, for large-scale clinical evaluation. ASF virus is a large complex virus, not inducing full neutralizing antibodies, with multiple genotypes and a lack of comprehensive research on virus infection and immunity. Since it was first reported in China in August 2018, ASF has spread rapidly across the country. To prevent, control, further purify and eradicate ASF, joint scientific and technological research on ASF vaccines has been carried out in China. In the past 4 years (2018–2022), several groups in China have been funded for the research and development of various types of ASF vaccines, achieving marked progress and reaching certain milestones. Here, we have provided a comprehensive and systematic summary of all of the relevant data regarding the current status of the development of ASF vaccines in China to provide a reference for further progress worldwide. At present, the further clinical application of the ASF vaccine still needs a lot of tests and research accumulation.

Type synthesis of mechanical structure is of great significance to the realization of mechanism target function, systematization, and stability of mechanical device. The type synthesis method of multilinkage robot has been given high demands with increasing number of degrees of freedom and high flexibility in special occasions. In order to improve the workspace and flexibility of mechanism, this paper studies the existing type synthesis theory and proposes a type synthesis method of modular combination with virtual rotation centers. Firstly, modular units are built. Secondly, modular units are expanded according to the needed paths. In the end, the expanded modular units are combined to form the kinematic linkages. Based on the proposed method, the configuration design of the aerial working platform and the self-adaptive levelling platform is completed. The stabilities of two platforms are checked by modal analysis. The prototype products are manufactured, respectively, for further verifying validity of the method. The designed aerial working platform with virtual rotation centers can achieve 360° rotating large workspace, more compact mechanical structure, and short arrival time at the same height than the common scissor-type and mast-type aerial working platforms. The designed adaptive levelling platform is tested that ensures the levelling of the upper surface at different inclinations. The method can provide new idea for the mechanism configuration and expand the application scope of new mechanisms.