Research Progress in Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus–Host Protein Interactions

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a highly contagious disease caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which has been regarded as a persistent challenge for the pig industry in many countries. PRRSV is internalized into host cells by the interaction between PRRSV proteins and cellular receptors. When the virus invades the cells, the host antiviral immune system is quickly activated to suppress the replication of the viruses. To retain fitness and host adaptation, various viruses have evolved multiple elegant strategies to manipulate the host machine and circumvent against the host antiviral responses. Therefore, identification of virus–host interactions is critical for understanding the host defense against viral infections and the pathogenesis of the viral infectious diseases. Most viruses, including PRRSV, interact with host proteins during infection. On the one hand, such interaction promotes the virus from escaping the host immune system to complete its replication. On the other hand, the interactions regulate the host cell immune response to inhibit viral infections. As common antiviral drugs become increasingly inefficient under the pressure of viral selectivity, therapeutic agents targeting the intrinsic immune factors of the host protein are more promising because the host protein has a lower probability of mutation under drug-mediated selective pressure. This review elaborates on the virus–host interactions during PRRSV infection to summarize the pathogenic mechanisms of PRRSV, and we hope this can provide insights for designing effective vaccines or drugs to prevent and control the spread of PRRS.