Genetic Diversity, Phylogenetic Lineages, and Antigenic Features of the PRRSV-1 GP5 Gene in China

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) poses a significant threat to the global swine industry. In this study, the genetic diversity, evolutionary dynamics, and key antigenic characteristics of the PRRSV-1 GP5 gene in China were systematically investigated. A total of 114 Chinese PRRSV-1 GP5 sequences, isolated between 1999 and 2024, were analyzed alongside global reference strains. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence similarities ranged from 60.03% to 100% and from 48.72% to 100%, respectively, with mutation and deletion hotspots concentrated in the N-terminal hypervariable region. Phylogenetic analysis further classified the Chinese strains into four major lineages: Amervac-like, BJEU06-1-like, HKEU16-like, and NMEU09-1-like. Notably, a preliminary phylogenetic observation indicated that several recent Chinese PRRSV-1 isolates clustered topologically close to PRRSV-2 strains. However, as this finding is based solely on a single-gene tree and has not been validated by formal tests for convergent evolution, homoplasy, or selection pressure, it should be interpreted with caution and warrants further investigation using whole-genome data. A Bayesian evolutionary analysis estimated the evolutionary rate at 1.94 × 10−3 substitutions per site per year and the time to the most recent common ancestor at approximately 1910. No statistically significant recombination events were identified within the GP5 gene. The transmembrane topology of GP5 was highly conserved, whereas B-cell linear epitopes were enriched in the N-terminal extracellular region. This study establishes a useful molecular foundation for understanding PRRSV-1 evolution in China and offers valuable insights for the development of broad-spectrum vaccines and effective control strategies.