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Volume 18
Issue 2
10.3390/v18020191
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Article

Characterization of the Genomics and Antigenicity of a Naturally Attenuated Gammacoronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Strain in the Genotype GVI-1 Lineage

by
Ting Xiong
1,2,†,
Shuting Wu
1,2,†,
Yanfen Lyu
3,
Hongmei Li
2,
Mengyao Jing
2,
Zekun Yang
2,
Fei Xu
2,
Shuaibo Shi
3,
Haixia Feng
2,
Dingxiang Liu
2,* and
Ruiai Chen
1,2,4,*
1
College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China
2
Zhaoqing Branch of Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, Zhaoqing 526238, China
3
School of Mathematics and Physics, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China
4
Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioproducts Development for Animal Epidemic Prevention, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhaoqing 526238, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Viruses 2026, 18(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18020191
Submission received: 7 December 2025 / Revised: 6 January 2026 / Accepted: 9 January 2026 / Published: 30 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Viruses)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes a highly contagious disease in chickens. The prevalence of GVI-1 is increasing; however, the genomic characteristics and antigenic properties of this genotype strain remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, the genome characteristics and antigenic properties of a naturally attenuated CK/CH/SC/YC_GVI-1-DK/LMB20210104 (abbreviated as YC_GVI-1) strain were systematically analyzed. YC_GVI-1 occupies a distinct phylogenetic lineage and shares a similarity of 98.2%, the highest nucleotide sequence homology, with the reference strain CK/CH/FJ/202005 (accession number: MW791835.1). This strain was likely originated through a genetic recombination event between two major parental strains, CK/CH/FJ/202005 and CK/CH/GX/HX (accession number: PP817796.1). However, its S protein harbors ten unique amino acid substitutions, compared to the same protein in the other two virulent strains in the same genotype. AlphaFold3-based structural prediction reveals that one of these substitutions, methionine 485 to valine substitution, may induce a conformational change in the adjacent phenylalanine residue at position 431, resulting in a shift in the local secondary structure from β-sheet to random coil. Characterization of its antigenicity showed that this strain induces a strong humoral immune response, with neutralizing antibody titers of 26.40 against homologous strain YC_GVI-1 and 24.00 against heterologous strain JS96_GI-19. Furthermore, vaccination of chickens with this strain conferred complete protection (100%) against JS96_GI-19. The findings provide novel insights into the molecular evolution and antigenicity of YC_GVI-1, offering key information for improving IBV surveillance and vaccine development.
Keywords: IBV; genome characteristics; antigenic analysis IBV; genome characteristics; antigenic analysis

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MDPI and ACS Style

Xiong, T.; Wu, S.; Lyu, Y.; Li, H.; Jing, M.; Yang, Z.; Xu, F.; Shi, S.; Feng, H.; Liu, D.; et al. Characterization of the Genomics and Antigenicity of a Naturally Attenuated Gammacoronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Strain in the Genotype GVI-1 Lineage. Viruses 2026, 18, 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18020191

AMA Style

Xiong T, Wu S, Lyu Y, Li H, Jing M, Yang Z, Xu F, Shi S, Feng H, Liu D, et al. Characterization of the Genomics and Antigenicity of a Naturally Attenuated Gammacoronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Strain in the Genotype GVI-1 Lineage. Viruses. 2026; 18(2):191. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18020191

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xiong, Ting, Shuting Wu, Yanfen Lyu, Hongmei Li, Mengyao Jing, Zekun Yang, Fei Xu, Shuaibo Shi, Haixia Feng, Dingxiang Liu, and et al. 2026. "Characterization of the Genomics and Antigenicity of a Naturally Attenuated Gammacoronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Strain in the Genotype GVI-1 Lineage" Viruses 18, no. 2: 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18020191

APA Style

Xiong, T., Wu, S., Lyu, Y., Li, H., Jing, M., Yang, Z., Xu, F., Shi, S., Feng, H., Liu, D., & Chen, R. (2026). Characterization of the Genomics and Antigenicity of a Naturally Attenuated Gammacoronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Strain in the Genotype GVI-1 Lineage. Viruses, 18(2), 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18020191

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