Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major pathogen responsible for viral diarrhea in pigs, causing particularly high mortality in neonatal piglets. In recent years, genetic variations in PEDV have resulted in alterations in both its virulence and antigenicity, leading to a reduced efficacy o...

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Main Authors: Xi Lu, Chen Chen, Zixuan Wang, Anding Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/444
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author Xi Lu
Chen Chen
Zixuan Wang
Anding Zhang
author_facet Xi Lu
Chen Chen
Zixuan Wang
Anding Zhang
author_sort Xi Lu
collection DOAJ
description Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major pathogen responsible for viral diarrhea in pigs, causing particularly high mortality in neonatal piglets. In recent years, genetic variations in PEDV have resulted in alterations in both its virulence and antigenicity, leading to a reduced efficacy of existing vaccines. In this study, diarrheal samples were collected from four commercial pig farms in the Hubei, Guangxi, and Jiangxi provinces, China, which experienced vaccine failure. RT-qPCR confirmed PEDV infection, and three PEDV strains, 2021-HBMC, 2024-JXYX, and 2024-JXNC, were successfully isolated. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic tree construction classified these strains into the G2c genotype, the predominant subtype in China. The neutralization assays revealed a significant reduction in the neutralizing titers of these strains against the immune serum compared with the AJ1102 reference strain. Further amino acid sequence analysis of the spike (S) protein identified several mutations in key neutralizing epitopes compared with the AJ1102 strain, including S27L, E57A, N139D, M214T, and P229L in the S-NTD epitope; A520S, F539L, K566N, D569E, G612V, P634S, E636V/K in the COE epitope; and Y1376H in the 2C10 epitope, along with several deletions at N-glycosylation sites (347NSSD and 510NITV). Additionally, whole-genome sequencing and recombination analysis indicated that the 2021-HBMC strain may have resulted from a recombination event. The findings of this study underscore the challenge posed by the continuous genetic evolution of PEDV to vaccine efficacy and provide valuable insights for future vaccine development and control strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-359c047e8ae84f22bcc1cb6a6ef3b5a42025-08-20T01:56:38ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-05-0112544410.3390/vetsci12050444Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024Xi Lu0Chen Chen1Zixuan Wang2Anding Zhang3State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaPorcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major pathogen responsible for viral diarrhea in pigs, causing particularly high mortality in neonatal piglets. In recent years, genetic variations in PEDV have resulted in alterations in both its virulence and antigenicity, leading to a reduced efficacy of existing vaccines. In this study, diarrheal samples were collected from four commercial pig farms in the Hubei, Guangxi, and Jiangxi provinces, China, which experienced vaccine failure. RT-qPCR confirmed PEDV infection, and three PEDV strains, 2021-HBMC, 2024-JXYX, and 2024-JXNC, were successfully isolated. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic tree construction classified these strains into the G2c genotype, the predominant subtype in China. The neutralization assays revealed a significant reduction in the neutralizing titers of these strains against the immune serum compared with the AJ1102 reference strain. Further amino acid sequence analysis of the spike (S) protein identified several mutations in key neutralizing epitopes compared with the AJ1102 strain, including S27L, E57A, N139D, M214T, and P229L in the S-NTD epitope; A520S, F539L, K566N, D569E, G612V, P634S, E636V/K in the COE epitope; and Y1376H in the 2C10 epitope, along with several deletions at N-glycosylation sites (347NSSD and 510NITV). Additionally, whole-genome sequencing and recombination analysis indicated that the 2021-HBMC strain may have resulted from a recombination event. The findings of this study underscore the challenge posed by the continuous genetic evolution of PEDV to vaccine efficacy and provide valuable insights for future vaccine development and control strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/444porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV)virus isolationantigenic variationvaccine efficacyG2c genotype
spellingShingle Xi Lu
Chen Chen
Zixuan Wang
Anding Zhang
Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024
Veterinary Sciences
porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV)
virus isolation
antigenic variation
vaccine efficacy
G2c genotype
title Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024
title_full Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024
title_fullStr Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024
title_full_unstemmed Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024
title_short Isolation and Characterization of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus G2c Strains Circulating in China from 2021 to 2024
title_sort isolation and characterization of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus g2c strains circulating in china from 2021 to 2024
topic porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV)
virus isolation
antigenic variation
vaccine efficacy
G2c genotype
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/444
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AT zixuanwang isolationandcharacterizationofporcineepidemicdiarrheavirusg2cstrainscirculatinginchinafrom2021to2024
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