Genomic characterization, pathogenicity, and PRRSV-vectored vaccine protection of an emerging recombinant PRRSV strain FJNP22-1

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.016

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Jiale Li¹^,^2*, Wenna Shuai^1*, Ziqiang Guo¹, Meng Luo¹, Liwei Li¹, Yanjun Zhou¹, Yifeng Jiang¹, Guangzhi Tong¹^,³, Yifan Zeng¹, Jinbin Wang¹, Fei Gao¹^,^3#

¹Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China

² College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

³Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China

Highlights

l Identification of a novel recombinant PRRSV strain (FJNP22-1), classified within PRRSV-2 Lineage 8 and Sub-lineage 1.8, with complex recombination events involving HP-PRRSV and NADC30-like strains.

l FJNP22-1 exhibits high pathogenicity in piglets, causing 100% morbidity, severe clinical symptoms, and marked pulmonary lesions.

l A recombinant PRRSV-vectored vaccine (rPRRSV-E2) provided strong protection against FJNP22-1 challenge, offering potential for improved PRRS control in China.

Abstract
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摘要

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）是引致猪繁殖与呼吸综合征（PRRS）的病原体，给全球养猪业造成重大经济损失。近年来，PRRSV频繁发生基因重组与变异，产生诸多遗传变异株，为PRRS防控和净化带来严峻挑战。本研究于2023年从福建省某发病猪场成功分离到一株新型PRRSV毒株，命名为FJNP22-1。全基因组系统发育分析表明，该毒株属于PRRSV-2谱系8成员；基于ORF5基因的进化分析则将其进一步归类于PRRSV-2亚谱系1.8。重组分析显示，FJNP22-1为HP-PRRSV（谱系8，主要亲本株）与NADC30-like（谱系1，次要亲本株）重组演化形成的毒株，在Nsp2、Nsp3、ORF2和ORF4基因区共识别出7个重组断点。致病性评价证实，FJNP22-1感染可导致仔猪100%发病，临床表现为发热、厌食及严重生长迟缓；剖检病变显示肺部出现显著病理损伤，表明该毒株对猪只具有高致病性。此外，本研究通过反向遗传技术构建了表达猪瘟病毒（CSFV）E2蛋白的重组PRRSV载体候选疫苗（rPRRSV-E2），该疫苗能为仔猪抵御FJNP22-1攻毒提供坚实保护。本研究深化了对PRRSV分子流行病学的认知，为我国PRRS疫苗研发与防控策略制定提供了重要依据。

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), the etiological agent of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), has caused substantial economic losses to the global swine industry. In recent years, frequent genetic recombination and mutation events in PRRSV have given rise to numerous genetic variants, presenting significant challenges for PRRS containment and eradication programs. In the present investigation, a novel PRRSV strain, designated FJNP22-1, was successfully isolated from an affected pig farm in Fujian Province, China, during a 2023 disease outbreak. Comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the complete genome sequence identified FJNP22-1 as a member of Lineage 8 within the PRRSV-2. Notably, ORF5-based phylogenetic characterization revealed its classification within Sub-lineage 1.8 of PRRSV-2. Genomic recombination analysis revealed that FJNP22-1 was a recombination strain derived from HP-PRRSV (Lineage 8, major parental strain) and NADC30-like (Lineage 1, minor parental strain), with seven distinct recombination breakpoints identified across Nsp2, Nsp3, ORF2, and ORF4 gene regions. Pathogenicity evaluation demonstrated that FJNP22-1 infection induced 100% morbidity in piglets, with clinical manifestations including pyrexia, anorexia and severe growth retardation. Necropsy findings confirmed marked pulmonary lesions, supporting the conclusion that FJNP22-1 exhibits high pathogenicity in swine. Furthermore, a novel recombinant PRRSV-vectored vaccine candidate (rPRRSV-E2), engineered via reverse genetics to express the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) E2 glycoprotein, conferred robust protection against FJNP22-1 challenge in piglets. This study enhances our understanding of PRRSV molecular epidemiology and provides valuable insights for vaccine development and PRRS control strategies in China.

Keywords: PRRSV recombination analysis pathogenicity immune efficacy clinical signs

Online: 08 December 2025

Fund:

We are very grateful for the support from the Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-CSLPDCP-202302), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32373050), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1800804), and the foundation of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology (BD1500010). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

About author: Jiale Li, E-mail: li.jia.le@foxmail.com; Wenna Shuai, E-mail: shuaiwenna2023@163.com; #Correspondence Fei Gao, E-mail: feigao@shvri.ac.cn * These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Jiale Li, Wenna Shuai, Ziqiang Guo, Meng Luo, Liwei Li, Yanjun Zhou, Yifeng Jiang, Guangzhi Tong, Yifan Zeng, Jinbin Wang, Fei Gao. 2025. Genomic characterization, pathogenicity, and PRRSV-vectored vaccine protection of an emerging recombinant PRRSV strain FJNP22-1. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.016

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