Isolation of the Initial Bovine Alphaherpesvirus 1 Isolate from Yanbian, China

TL;DR

Researchers isolated a new strain of bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 in China and studied its genetic traits and infection patterns in host cells.

Contribution

First successful isolation of a BoAHV1 strain in Yanbian, China, with insights into its genetic evolution and glycoprotein gene expression dynamics.

Findings

The isolated BoAHV1 strain shows genetic similarity to strains from Sichuan, Egypt, and the USA.

Early upregulation of gB gene is critical for sustained infection, while gC and gD expression varies.

Findings suggest potential cross-border transmission and highlight the need for global collaboration.

Abstract

Bovine infectious rhinotracheitis (IBR) is a severe, febrile, and highly contagious disease caused by bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV1), resulting in substantial economic losses in the cattle industry worldwide. Despite its significant impact, there is a dearth of comprehensive research on the genetic characteristics and infection dynamics of BoAHV1. This study represents a pivotal milestone as it successfully isolated a BoAHV1 strain for the first time from a cattle farm in Yanji city, revealing the genetic evolutionary characteristics of BoAHV1 and the expression dynamics of its associated glycoprotein genes within host cells. Notably, the exceptional disease resistance displayed by Yanbian yellow cattle has rendered previous reports on their susceptibility to BoAHV1 infection nonexistent. These findings underscore the importance of global collaboration in understanding and combating BoAHV1, offering crucial insights into its infection dynamics during host cell invasion.

Bovine infectious rhinotracheitis (IBR), caused by bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV1), poses significant challenges to the global cattle industry due to its high contagiousness and economic impact. In our study, we successfully isolated a BoAHV1 strain from suspected infected bovine nasal mucus samples in Yanji city, revealing genetic similarities with strains from Sichuan, Egypt, and the USA, while strains from Xinjiang, Beijing, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia showed more distant associations, indicating potential cross-border transmission. Additionally, our investigation of BoAHV1 infection dynamics within host cells revealed early upregulation of gB, which is critical for sustained infection, while the expression of gC and gD showed variations compared to previous studies. These findings enhance our understanding of BoAHV1 diversity and infection kinetics, underscoring the importance of international collaboration for effective surveillance and control strategies. Furthermore, they lay the groundwork for the development of targeted therapeutics and vaccines to mitigate the impact of IBR on the cattle industry.

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