Protein profile and protein interaction network analysis of Ornithodoros moubata during African swine fever virus infection

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly contagious and lethal DNA virus that causes a devastating disease with important economic and agricultural impacts on domestic and wild pig populations. Soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros , can transmit the virus through biologically, allowing it to persist and spread through active biological or mechanical processes, as well as passive transport or ingestion. To better understand the interaction between soft ticks and ASFV, and the potential influence of tick protein components on viral transmission, Ornithodoros moubata tick cells (OME/CTVM24) were cultured with or without ASFV infection, followed by protein extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We identified 788 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including those related to metabolism, immune response, reproductive processes, and pathogen transmission. The mRNA expression levels of 50 selected proteins were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) with 14 upregulated, 30 downregulated, and 6 unchanged. Functional groups and pathway analysis identified key proteins associated with metabolic pathways, carbon metabolism, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome, ribosome, endocytosis, biosynthesis of amino acids, and phagosome pathways, all of which may facilitate virus assembly and transmission. This work provides valuable data and molecular information about key proteins in tick physiology and their interaction with ASFV. These findings may enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that support O . moubata -mediated ASFV transmission.