Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has become one of the most important pig diseases causing huge economic losses worldwide, characterized by respiratory disease, weight loss, and poor growth performance in pigs of all ages, as well as by late-term reproductive failures in sows. As the pathogen of PRRS, PRRS virus (PRRSV) is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus with a high mutation rate. PRRSV invades the host mainly by targeting the macrophages via the core receptor CD163 together with the joint forces from several other co-receptors such as Siglecs, heparan sulphate, CD151, vimentin, MYH9, etc. Infection of macrophages results in their death and immune suppression and may contribute to the frequent bacterial infections that complicate respiratory disease. At present commercial vaccines are available but cannot protect pigs from infection by heterogenous strains. In addition, they have serious side effects. Therefore, vaccination is highly controversial. The pathogenesis of the PRRS remains unclear and further research is needed for therapeutics.
The aim of this special issue is to gather a collection of Review or Original Research articles on PRRSV including i) host-pathogen interaction: the interaction of the virus with the immune system of the cells, particularly macrophages and dendritic cells; ii) viral structural and non-structural protein function analysis; iii) immune escape and suppression in the process of the virus life cycle; iv) antivirals development.
Specifically, submissions that include but are not limited to the following are welcome:
• PRRSV variation and evolution under immune pressure of the host
• Inhibition/regulation of the immune response by PRRSV
• The molecular mechanism of PRRSV adsorption, entry, uncoating and release
• Function and structure analysis of virus-encoded proteins
• PRRSV pathogenesis and immune-response mediator patterns to PRRSV infection
• Antivirals development against PRRSV infection
• PRRSV resistance by gene-editing technique
Keywords: PRRSV, pig, immune response, immune suppression, host-virus interaction
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
