Pseudorabies virus can be classified into five genotypes using partial sequences of UL44

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Swine Disease Research

Background:

• Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1) causes pseudorabies (PR), leading to significant economic losses in the swine industry.
• Understanding SuHV-1 genetic diversity is crucial for disease control and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a genotyping method for SuHV-1 utilizing partial glycoprotein C (gC) gene sequences.
• To investigate the evolutionary dynamics and selective pressures shaping the variability within the SuHV-1 gC gene.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analysis of 109 SuHV-1 gC gene sequences obtained from GenBank.
• Bayesian inference was employed for phylogenetic tree reconstruction.
• Analysis of selective pressures acting on the gC gene, including regions of protein disorder.

Main Results:

• SuHV-1 gC sequences were successfully grouped into five distinct genotypes.
• Specific regions of the gC gene (approx. 671 bp) were found to be under varying selective pressures.
• These pressures correlated with areas of predicted protein disorder within the gC protein.

Conclusions:

• A reliable method for SuHV-1 genotyping based on gC sequences was established.
• Five SuHV-1 genotypes exhibit distinct evolutionary trajectories influenced by different selective pressures.
• The observed genotype distribution, not limited by geography, suggests frequent viral introductions through international swine trade.