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Updated: Aug 28, 2026
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
Published on: December 29, 2015
Isolation and Genomic Characteristics of the First Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Subgenotype 2b Isolate from Buffalo in
Shuhong Zhong1,2, Shaomin Qin1,2, Shiwen Feng1,2
1Guangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530001, China.
Abstract:
(1) Background: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an economically important pathogen affecting cattle worldwide. The genetic diversity of BVDV-2 in buffalo remains poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the genomic and antigenic features of GX24, the first BVDV-2b isolate identified from dairy buffalo in China. (2) Methods: The virus was isolated from a rectal swab through three blind passages in MDBK cells and identified through immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. The near-complete genome was sequenced using the Illumina platform and subjected to phylogenetic and recombination analysis. B-cell epitopes and glycosylation sites were predicted using BepiPred-3.0, Epitope1D, DiscoTope-3.0, NetNGlyc-1.0, and NetO-Glyc-4.0. (3) Results: The 12,267-nt GX24 genome (GenBank: PX682047) was classified as BVDV-2b. Recombination analysis detected a putative recombination signal within the NS5A gene involving Chinese BVDV-2b and Italian BVDV-2a strains. Integrative analyses predicted conserved linear and conformational epitope clusters in the N- and C-terminal regions of the E2 protein. Spatial analysis indicated that several epitope residues may be masked by glycan shielding. (4) Conclusions: This study provides the first genomic evidence of a BVDV-2b isolate from dairy buffalo in China, suggesting that BVDV-2b may be present in this population. The putative recombination signal and antigenic characteristics offer valuable insights for the development of diagnostics and vaccine design in the future.
