An Evolving Challenge: Pathogenicity, Control and Elimination of the Evolving PRRSV and PCV Threat

The global swine industry faces a persistent and evolving challenge from viral pathogens, foremost among them being Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) and Porcine Circoviruses (PCVs). These agents are not static threats; their capacity for rapid genetic evolution results in the continuous emergence of new, often more virulent strains, fundamentally complicating vaccination and control efforts worldwide. This Research Topic addresses the urgent need for innovative strategies to combat these dynamic pathogens, ultimately aiming for effective on-farm control and regional elimination.

Individually, PRRSV and Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) inflict severe economic losses through reproductive failure and systemic conditions like Porcine Circovirus-Associated Disease (PCVAD). However, a central challenge in modern swine medicine is their synergistic co-infection. This viral interplay dramatically exacerbates clinical outcomes, leading to profound immunosuppression, intensified pathology, and production losses that far exceed those of single infections. This reality renders many conventional, single-pathogen control measures, and subsequent elimination programs, insufficient.

The situation is further compounded by the constant emergence of highly pathogenic PRRSV variants and the enigmatic Porcine Circovirus type 3 (PCV3). The precise role of PCV3 in swine disease complexes and its potential interactions with PRRSV remain largely uncharacterized, representing a critical frontier in veterinary research. Understanding the unique pathogenicity of these emerging strains is paramount for developing effective, next-generation countermeasures.

Current vaccine-based control strategies, while foundational, are often outpaced by the extensive genetic diversity of PRRSV and the antigenic variability of PCVs. This creates significant gaps in protective immunity and raises questions about cross-protection and the efficacy of combined vaccination protocols. To bridge these gaps, this Research Topic will gather cutting-edge research focused specifically on next-generation vaccine strategies and immunological approaches to control emerging PRRSV and PCVs, and on their successful application within practical disease elimination programs.

We invite submissions of original research, reviews, and perspectives on the following themes:

· Molecular mechanisms of virulence and immuno-evasion by emerging PRRSV and PCVs in the context of vaccine development.

· Development and evaluation of novel vaccine platforms (e.g., mRNA, subunit, viral vectors) and advanced adjuvant technologies for PRRSV and PCVs.

· Strategies for inducing broad and durable protective immunity against antigenically diverse

viral strains.

· Pathogenesis of PCV3 and its implications for the development of effective multivalent vaccines.

· Evaluation of cross-protective efficacy between existing and next-generation vaccines against emerging heterologous strains.

· Immunological interplay in co-infection scenarios and its impact on combined vaccination strategies.

· Field-based efficacy and long-term impact of next-generation vaccination strategies within large-scale PRRSV and PCV elimination and control programs.

· Assessment of the integrated use of vaccines with other biosecurity and management practices for successful pathogen elimination.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: PRRSV, PCV3, Co-infection, Pathogenicity, PCV2, Vaccine Development, Next-Generation Vaccines, Protective Immunity, Cross-Protection, Elimination

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.