Porcine Viruses 2025

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4112

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
Interests: development of vaccines against animal viruses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
Interests: viruses; immunology; vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Interests: porcine virus; immune evasion; pathogenesis; epidemiology; virus evolution; prevention and control;vaccine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Swine virus disease is a kind of disease that inflicts great harm on the pig industry. It is not only harmful to pigs, but also highly contagious. Once a pig is infected, an entire farm or even an entire area is at risk. In recent years, various emerging and re-emerging disease pathogens have gradually broken through the existing immune defense line, through continuous recombination and evolution, resulting in the inefficiency or even ineffectiveness of current immune prevention and control measures, bringing significant threats and serious economic losses to the global pig industry. For example, African swine fever virus (ASFV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV) constantly mutate under multiple selection pressures, such as body immunity and vaccine immunity. As the frequency of international trade increases, viruses spread faster and wider. Similar virus strains in different regions recombine with each other, making the recombinant mutant strains break through the existing immune prevention and control measures, increasing the difficulty of disease prevention and control. Therefore, this Special Issue will focus on the epidemiological study of swine viruses, the pathogenesis and immune escape mechanisms of the viruses, and the development of new vaccines in addition to other related disease prevention and control issues. We welcome you to provide relevant research articles, comments, and original research.

Prof. Dr. Guoxin Li
Dr. Lingxue Yu
Prof. Dr. Jin Cui
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • epidemiology
  • pathogenesis
  • immune evasion
  • virus evolution
  • vaccine

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2374 KB  
Article
Cellular eEF1G Inhibits Porcine Deltacoronavirus Replication by Binding Nsp12 and Disrupting Its Interaction with Viral Genomic RNA
by Weijia Yin, Xinna Ge, Lei Zhou, Xin Guo, Jun Han, Yongning Zhang and Hanchun Yang
Viruses 2025, 17(10), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101369 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 303
Abstract
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe, often fatal, diarrhea in suckling piglets and has zoonotic potential. Its nonstructural protein 12 (Nsp12), functioning as the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), is a central component of the viral replication–transcription complex and a [...] Read more.
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe, often fatal, diarrhea in suckling piglets and has zoonotic potential. Its nonstructural protein 12 (Nsp12), functioning as the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), is a central component of the viral replication–transcription complex and a critical target for host antiviral mechanisms. Here, we identified eukaryotic elongation factor 1 gamma (eEF1G) as a host interactor of PDCoV Nsp12 by immunoprecipitation-coupled mass spectrometry in IPEC-J2 cells. This interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down assays, and confocal microscopy. Functional analyses involving siRNA knockdown and overexpression of eEF1G, combined with viral titration, strand-specific real-time quantitative PCR, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays, demonstrated that eEF1G directly binds to Nsp12. Knockdown of eEF1G significantly enhanced viral replication and increased negative-stranded RNA synthesis, whereas overexpression did not affect viral proliferation. Furthermore, eEF1G was found to bind PDCoV genomic RNA and competitively disrupt the interaction between Nsp12 and viral RNA, thereby impairing RdRp activity. Our results indicate that eEF1G acts as a novel host restriction factor that inhibits PDCoV replication by competing with Nsp12 for genomic RNA binding, ultimately blocking negative-stranded RNA synthesis. This study unveils a new antiviral mechanism and highlights a potential target for developing interventions against PDCoV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porcine Viruses 2025)
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15 pages, 2703 KB  
Article
Differential Effects of Selenium Compounds on Mitochondrial Function in PRRSV-Infected Porcine Alveolar Macrophages
by Abigail Williams, Christina Bourne, John Byrne, Chaitawat Sirisereewan, Brittany M. Pecoraro and Elisa Crisci
Viruses 2025, 17(10), 1303; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101303 - 26 Sep 2025
Viewed by 574
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Se deficiency increases oxidative stress and immunosuppression. In swine, dietary Se supplementation enhances immunity and growth, and previous studies suggest it protects immune cells during viral infection. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome [...] Read more.
Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Se deficiency increases oxidative stress and immunosuppression. In swine, dietary Se supplementation enhances immunity and growth, and previous studies suggest it protects immune cells during viral infection. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes severe respiratory and reproductive failure in swine, resulting in annual losses of 1.2 billion USD. Vaccine efficacy is hampered by the virus’s high mutation rate, requiring alternative approaches. This study examines the effects of organic (DL-Selenomethionine, L-Selenomethionine, yeast-selenium) and inorganic (sodium selenite) Se on PRRSV infection in vitro. Porcine alveolar macrophages, the primary target of PRRSV in the lung, were isolated from healthy animals and infected with PRRSV-2 with or without Se. Mitochondrial function, gene expression, oxidative stress, and viral load were assessed post-infection. DL-selenomethionine showed increased glycolytic and mitochondrial ATP production relative to other compounds, suggesting improved mitochondrial function. No antiviral activity against PRRSV was observed. Transcriptome analysis revealed infection-driven modulation, with upregulation of IL6, IL8, IL1B1, MX1, and TXNRD1, but Se had no significant effect. While Se did not exhibit antiviral activity in vitro, its enhancement of mitochondrial function offers additional insight supporting its potential immunomodulatory benefits observed in previous in vivo studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porcine Viruses 2025)
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15 pages, 5292 KB  
Article
Structural and Functional Characterization of Porcine Adeno-Associated Viruses
by Austin Nelson, Mario Mietzsch, Jane Hsi, Julia Eby, Paul Chipman and Robert McKenna
Viruses 2025, 17(9), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17091260 - 18 Sep 2025
Viewed by 585
Abstract
Current gene therapy treatments utilizing adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are based on capsids of primate origin. However, pre-existing neutralizing anti-AAV antibodies, that are present in a significant portion of the population, can lead to vector inactivation and reduced therapeutic efficacy. Advances in DNA [...] Read more.
Current gene therapy treatments utilizing adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are based on capsids of primate origin. However, pre-existing neutralizing anti-AAV antibodies, that are present in a significant portion of the population, can lead to vector inactivation and reduced therapeutic efficacy. Advances in DNA sequencing have facilitated the discovery of many AAVs from non-primate species, including isolates from pigs, which exhibit up to 50% capsid protein sequence divergence, compared to primate AAV serotypes. In this study, AAVs isolated from porcine tissues (AAVpo.1 and AAVpo.6) were selected for structural characterization due to their low capsid protein VP1 sequence identity compared to each other and to AAV9. The AAV vectors were produced via the standard triple transfection system in HEK293 cells using AAV2 rep to package AAV2-ITR vector genomes and were purified by iodixanol density gradient ultracentrifugation. The capsid structures of AAVpo.1 and AAVpo.6 were determined using cryo-electron microscopy and then compared to each other in addition to the AAV5 and AAV9 structures. Given that porcine AAVpo.6 has been reported to infect human cells and the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, the functional characterization was focused on the identification of a potential glycan receptor utilized by the porcine capsids. Additionally, the porcine AAV capsid reactivity to human derived anti-AAV antibodies was assessed to evaluate the potential for these capsids to be used as alternative vectors for gene therapy, particularly for patients with pre-existing immunity to primate-derived AAV serotypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porcine Viruses 2025)
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15 pages, 3514 KB  
Article
Seroprevalence, Genetic Characteristics, and Pathogenicity of Korean Porcine Sapeloviruses
by Song-Yi Kim, Choi-Kyu Park, Gyu-Nam Park, SeEun Choe, Min-Kyung Jang, Young-Hyeon Lee, Yun Sang Cho and Dong-Jun An
Viruses 2025, 17(7), 870; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17070870 - 20 Jun 2025
Viewed by 696
Abstract
Although porcine sapelovirus (PSV) is generally subclinical, it can cause a wide range of clinical signs in some individuals, including respiratory distress, acute diarrhea, pneumonia, skin lesions, reproductive failure, and neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and genotype of PSV [...] Read more.
Although porcine sapelovirus (PSV) is generally subclinical, it can cause a wide range of clinical signs in some individuals, including respiratory distress, acute diarrhea, pneumonia, skin lesions, reproductive failure, and neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and genotype of PSV isolated from domestic pigs and wild boars in Korea. We also analyzed potential recombination events, and assessed the pathogenicity of the virus through animal experiments. In wild boars, the prevalence of PSV antibodies decreased slightly (by 1.8%) over 5 years (from 2019 to 2024); however, prevalence increased significantly (by 17.8%) in breeding sows. In samples from animals with diarrhea and respiratory clinical signs, the prevalence of PSV alone was 21.1%, whereas the prevalence of PSV mixed with other pathogens was also 21.1%. The whole genome of the PSV/Goryeong/KR-2019 strain isolated from a piglet with diarrhea was closely related to the Jpsv447 strain isolated in Japan in 2009, and recombination analysis predicted that the PSV/Goryeong/KR-2019 strain was generated by genetic recombination between the KS05151 strain and the Jpsv447 strain. However, when the PSV/Goryeong/KR-2019 strain was orally administered to 5-day-old suckling pigs, diarrhea clinical signs were mild, and no significant changes were observed in villus height and ridge depth in the duodenum, jejunum, or ileum. In addition, no neurological clinical signs were observed when the isolated virus was administered to 130-day-old pigs, and no specific lesions were found upon histopathological examination of brain tissue. In conclusion, PSV/Goryeong/KR-2019 appears to be a weakly pathogenic virus that does not cause severe diarrhea in suckling pigs, and does not cause neurological clinical signs in fattening pigs. Therefore, it is presumed that most PSVs detected in Korean pig farms are weakly pathogenic strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porcine Viruses 2025)
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15 pages, 6831 KB  
Article
Attenuation of a Virulent Porcine Deltacoronavirus Strain DHeB1 via Serial Passage in LLC-PK1 Cells
by Yuhan Zhang, Kang Liu, Longfei Chen, Meng Yuan, Hongyu Lu, Shaobo Xiao and Liurong Fang
Viruses 2025, 17(5), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17050695 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 764
Abstract
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a newly discovered enteropathogenic coronavirus primarily responsible for diarrhea and mortality in piglets, with the potential to infect humans, thereby posing a significant threat to both human health and the global pig industry. Currently, there is no commercially available [...] Read more.
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a newly discovered enteropathogenic coronavirus primarily responsible for diarrhea and mortality in piglets, with the potential to infect humans, thereby posing a significant threat to both human health and the global pig industry. Currently, there is no commercially available live-attenuated vaccine for PDCoV. In this study, an isolated virulent PDCoV strain, DHeB1, was continuously passaged in LLC-PK1 cells for up to 110 passages. The virus growth kinetics in cell culture and complete genome sequences of various passages (F11, F40, F70, F90, and F110) were determined. The results indicated significant increases in virus titers at passages F40 and F90. Sequence analysis revealed that only a few single-nucleotide mutations (some of which resulted in amino acid changes) and one nucleotide insertion were observed throughout successive passages. Notably, the eight and seven amino acid mutations that emerged in F40 and F70, respectively, remained stable in subsequent passages and were predominantly located in the S glycoprotein. The pathogenicity of F11, F40, F70, and F90 was assessed in 5-day-old piglets, revealing markedly reduced clinical symptoms, histopathological lesions, and intestinal PDCoV antigen distributions in piglets inoculated with F70 or F90. Importantly, F90 exhibited little to no virulence in piglets. The immunogenicity of F70, F90, and F110 was further evaluated in weaned piglets, with results indicating that the neutralizing antibody titers induced by F70 and F90 were comparable and significantly higher than those induced by F110. Collectively, these findings suggest that the PDCoV strain DHeB1 has been attenuated and can be used to develop a live-attenuated vaccine against PDCoV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porcine Viruses 2025)
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19 pages, 4600 KB  
Article
The Junction Between nsp1β and nsp2 in the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Genome Is a New Site for the Insertion and Expression of Foreign Genes
by Changguang Xiao, Yafang Lin, Hailong Zhang, Zongjie Li, Ke Liu, Beibei Li, Donghua Shao, Yafeng Qiu, Zhiyong Ma and Jianchao Wei
Viruses 2025, 17(5), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17050656 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 679
Abstract
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is considered a promising viral vector for the expression and delivery of foreign genes for the development of a new generation of multi-valent vaccines against PRRSV and other porcine viruses, as well as for analyses of [...] Read more.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is considered a promising viral vector for the expression and delivery of foreign genes for the development of a new generation of multi-valent vaccines against PRRSV and other porcine viruses, as well as for analyses of the immune response against PRRSV and anti-PRRSV component screening. In the present study, the junction site between nsp1β and nsp2 in the PRRSV genome was tested for the insertion and expression of foreign genes. Three foreign genes, including eGFP, iLOV3, and TEVp, were inserted into the intergenic junction between nsp1β and nsp2 and expressed by the respective recombinant PRRSVs (rPRRSV-SH01-eGFP, rPRRSV-SH01-iLOV3, and rPRRSV-SH01-TEVp) in vitro in mammalian cells. Analysis of the growth kinetics of the rescued recombinant PRRSVs showed no significant differences between the recombinant PRRSVs and their parental viruses. The inserted genes were consistently present in the viral genome during serial passage in vitro (for at least 20 passages). In addition, rPRRSV-SH01-eGFP can be used as a reporter virus for rapid detection of neutralizing antibodies against PRRSV through a fluorescent focus unit reduction-based assay. These data demonstrate that the junction between nsp1β and nsp2 is a new site that is suitable for the insertion and expression of foreign genes, providing a new option to express and deliver foreign genes using PRRSV-based vectors for different purposes, such as the development of multi-valent vaccines against PRRSV and other porcine viruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porcine Viruses 2025)
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