Genetic Variation Analysis of the NSP1 Gene of Type 2 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in China

Background/Objectives: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus type 2 (PRRSV-2) remains the predominant genotype circulating in China and continues to evolve through mutation and recombination. Although NSP1 is recognized as a multifunctional nonstructural protein involved in immune regulation, its genetic variation among PRRSV-2 strains circulating in China has not been comprehensively characterized. Methods: In this study, 425 complete NSP1 sequences, primarily representing PRRSV-2 strains circulating in China, were analyzed, and 48 representative strains were selected for pairwise percent-identity visualization. Results: Pairwise nucleotide identity among the 48 representative strains was found to range from 80.1% to 100.0%, with the lowest value detected between AHBZ and SD-R, whereas pairwise amino-acid identity ranged from 79.6% to 100.0%, with the lowest value detected between AHBZ and HNhx. Among the 425 aligned amino-acid sequences, 290 variable sites and 93 completely conserved sites were identified. The broad-lineage distribution was composed of Lineage 1 (n = 79), Lineage 3 (n = 4), Lineage 5 (n = 21), and Lineage 8 (n = 321). A global FEL dN/dS of approximately 0.2979 was estimated from 379 non-recombinant unique haplotypes, and seven high-confidence candidate positively selected sites-42, 239, 255, 302, 367, 370, and 378-were supported by MEME, FEL, and FUBAR. A descriptive lineage-biased pattern concentrated in Lineage 5 was observed for NSP1β Val19Ile, corresponding to full-length NSP1 V199I. Eight candidate recombination events were identified using RDP4, and six representative events were further examined using SimPlot. Conclusions: Overall, NSP1 was found to be under predominant purifying selection while retaining localized variability, lineage-biased residue patterns, and candidate recombination signals that should be interpreted cautiously and validated experimentally.