Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus antigens (PRRSV antigens) (PRRSV antigens)

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) antigens are the primary molecular targets for vaccines and diagnostic tools aimed at controlling one of the most economically significant diseases in the global swine industry (Lunney et al., 2016). These antigens consist of several structural proteins, including the major envelope glycoprotein (GP5), the matrix protein (M), and the highly immunogenic nucleocapsid protein (N), as well as various non-structural proteins (NSPs) involved in viral replication and host immune modulation (Dokland, 2010). GP5 and M proteins form heterodimers essential for viral attachment and entry into porcine alveolar macrophages, making them key targets for neutralizing antibodies (UniProt, 2023). The N protein is the most abundant viral protein and serves as the primary target for diagnostic ELISA assays due to its strong antigenicity (PubMed, 2023). Despite the widespread use of modified live virus (MLV) and killed vaccines targeting these antigens, the high mutation rate and genetic diversity of PRRSV pose significant challenges, often leading to incomplete protection and the emergence of novel strains (Zhang et al., 2023). Furthermore, concerns such as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) and the potential for vaccine-derived strains to recombine with field viruses complicate the therapeutic landscape (NIH, 2022).

Other names

PRRS virus antigensBlue-ear pig disease antigensPorcine arterivirus antigensPRRSV structural proteinsPRRSV non-structural proteins

Induction of active immunity through the presentation of viral epitopes to B and T cells, leading to the production of neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immune responses that inhibit viral entry and replication (Zhang et al., 2023).