The list of the top 10 advances in Chinese science in 2019 was announced by the high-tech research and development center -- also known as the basic research management center -- at the Ministry of Science and Technology on Feb 27, according to officials.

Research on the virus structure and assembly mechanism of African swine fever was included on the list, according to reports by the Biophysical Society of China, or BSC.

The study was conducted by a team led by Rao Zihe, honorary president of the BSC, and a team led by Bu Zhigao from the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, as well as other research units including one from ShanghaiTech University.

Experts said that based on an optimized image reconstruction strategy, researchers successfully analyzed the African swine fever virus.

They said the study revealed the virus’ structure and its assembly mechanism, which has important theoretical guidance for vaccine research and development.

The list of the top 10 advances in Chinese science has been issued for 15 years, officials said.

It aims to promote major scientific and technological progresses in China and encourage scientific and technical workers to devote to the scientific undertakings.