Exploiting Ubiquitination: African Swine Fever Virus-Mediated Recruitment of Host E3 Ligases During Viral Infection and Immune Regulation

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that governs various facets of eukaryotic biology, including protein stability, signaling, and immune regulation. The modification process is mediated by a coordinated enzymatic cascade, in which E3 ubiquitin ligases confer substrate specificity and determine the functional outcome of ubiquitin attachment. In the case of a virus infection, host cellular signaling networks undergo major ubiquitin-dependent changes to protect the host cell, including remodeling of cellular organelles, coordination of innate immunity, and reprogramming of metabolic pathways to prevent virus replication. African swine fever virus (ASFV) has evolved numerous strategies to counteract or evade these responses, thereby manipulating host defenses and promoting its replication. By modulating ubiquitination-dependent host cellular functions, the virus can regulate key immune signaling factors, suppress interferon production, and interfere with inflammatory pathways. These actions not only antagonize antiviral defenses but also remodel cellular homeostasis to favor infection. The important interplay between host defense and viral manipulation underscores the versatility of the ubiquitin system as a battleground in ASFV infection. In this review, we discussed mechanistic insights into how ASFV subverts ubiquitin pathways during host-virus interactions. This comprehensive knowledge might be beneficial for pharmaceutical exploration of host E3 ligase-dependent anti-ASFV treatment.