Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a significant pathogen posed a serious threat to the global swine industry. In this study, a BAC-based reverse genetics platform was established using a highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) strain. Three recombinant reporter viruses were c...

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Main Authors: Rongxiao Liu, Shi Fu, Yukun Chai, Nian Liu, Benjin Liu, Lingzhi Luo, Wei Yang, Xiumei Dong, Jin Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1653170/full
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author Rongxiao Liu
Shi Fu
Yukun Chai
Nian Liu
Benjin Liu
Lingzhi Luo
Wei Yang
Xiumei Dong
Jin Cui
author_facet Rongxiao Liu
Shi Fu
Yukun Chai
Nian Liu
Benjin Liu
Lingzhi Luo
Wei Yang
Xiumei Dong
Jin Cui
author_sort Rongxiao Liu
collection DOAJ
description Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a significant pathogen posed a serious threat to the global swine industry. In this study, a BAC-based reverse genetics platform was established using a highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) strain. Three recombinant reporter viruses were constructed by inserting the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene into three different intergenic regions of the complete PRRSV-L251 genome. Immunofluorescence assays combined with viral growth kinetics and reporter gene stability assessments indicated that rL251-ORF4-5a-EGFP maintained relatively stable expression during serial passage, and viral titers at 72 hours post-infection (hpi) were comparable to the parental virus. Subsequently, we identified four candidate compounds with potential anti-PRRSV activity using rPRRSV-L251-ORF4-5a-EGFP, indicating that this platform can be used as a visual assessment tool for antiviral drug screening. This study demonstrated that the ORF4-5a interval region is a feasible and promising site for exogenous gene insertion, and provided a robust technical platform for PRRSV vaccine development and pathogenesis studies.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2235-2988
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
spelling doaj-art-0bc8f45acb9b4d29a8e5edcd1a54b6ff2025-08-26T05:27:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-08-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.16531701653170Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screeningRongxiao LiuShi FuYukun ChaiNian LiuBenjin LiuLingzhi LuoWei YangXiumei DongJin CuiPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a significant pathogen posed a serious threat to the global swine industry. In this study, a BAC-based reverse genetics platform was established using a highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) strain. Three recombinant reporter viruses were constructed by inserting the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene into three different intergenic regions of the complete PRRSV-L251 genome. Immunofluorescence assays combined with viral growth kinetics and reporter gene stability assessments indicated that rL251-ORF4-5a-EGFP maintained relatively stable expression during serial passage, and viral titers at 72 hours post-infection (hpi) were comparable to the parental virus. Subsequently, we identified four candidate compounds with potential anti-PRRSV activity using rPRRSV-L251-ORF4-5a-EGFP, indicating that this platform can be used as a visual assessment tool for antiviral drug screening. This study demonstrated that the ORF4-5a interval region is a feasible and promising site for exogenous gene insertion, and provided a robust technical platform for PRRSV vaccine development and pathogenesis studies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1653170/fullPRRSVBACEGFPantiviral drug screeningreverse genetics system
spellingShingle Rongxiao Liu
Shi Fu
Yukun Chai
Nian Liu
Benjin Liu
Lingzhi Luo
Wei Yang
Xiumei Dong
Jin Cui
Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
PRRSV
BAC
EGFP
antiviral drug screening
reverse genetics system
title Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening
title_full Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening
title_fullStr Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening
title_full_unstemmed Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening
title_short Construction of an EGFP-embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening
title_sort construction of an egfp embedded porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infectious clone and antiviral drug screening
topic PRRSV
BAC
EGFP
antiviral drug screening
reverse genetics system
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1653170/full
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