A team of researchers, led by Fernando Rodríguez from IRTA-CReSA, has developed a new vaccine, BA71ΔCD2, against African swine fever (ASF), a disease with a high mortality rate in pigs and no globally approved vaccine. The vaccine is a live attenuated virus that lacks the CD2v protein of the virulent parental BA71 virus, providing cross-protection against various strains of the ASF virus. The vaccine is also safer when administered intranasally, offering similar efficacy to intramuscular administration, which has been the previous strategy but has had safety concerns. The study also identified two cell types and an inflammatory response that are activated after vaccination, suggesting potential mechanisms for the vaccine's protection. This advancement could help control ASF through a less biosafety-constrained vaccination approach, complementing ongoing research into safer subunit vaccines.