Recently, the research achievement titled "Etiological Identification of Emerging Pseudorabies Virus and Development of Gene-Deleted Vaccines" by the Swine Viral Reproductive Disorder Prevention and Control Team of Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), was honored with the CAAS Outstanding Science and Technology Innovation Award.

This achievement addressed the critical challenges in the prevention and control of pseudorabies in swine in China. The researchers successfully isolated a novel variant of the pseudorabies virus (PRV) from affected pig herds for the first time, designated as the JS-2012 strain. The study revealed significant genetic variations in the viral genome and a marked increase in virulence. Due to mutations in the gB gene, existing commercial vaccines failed to provide complete protection against the variant strain. Leveraging the newly isolated PRV variant (JS-2012) as a template, the researchers employed homologous recombination technology to construct a gE/gI double-gene-deleted live attenuated vaccine (JS-2012-△gI/gE strain) for piglets, as well as a gene-deleted inactivated vaccine for sows. Additionally, using high-temperature passaging technology, they successfully obtained a naturally occurring gE/US2 gene-deleted live attenuated vaccine (JS-A1 strain). Animal trials and clinical studies demonstrated that piglets immunized with the aforementioned gene-deleted vaccines, or piglets born to immunized sows, were completely protected against the challenges from both emerging PRV variant and classical PRV virulent strains. As these vaccines lack the gE gene, a commercial gE-ELISA antibody detection kit can be used to differentiate vaccinated pigs from naturally infected ones by detecting gE antibodies. These findings provide a technological foundation for the prevention, control, and eradication of the PRV variant in China.

Peer experts evaluated the achievement as highly innovative with broad application prospects, reaching an overall international advanced level. The widespread application of these findings is expected to play a vital role in advancing the re-eradication of pseudorabies in swine herds in China. This award not only highlights the institute's innovative capabilities in agricultural science and technology but also inspires researchers to explore new approaches in agricultural technology innovation. Committed to the principle of "science-centered, striving-oriented, organized research, and whole-industry-chain innovation," the institute's researchers will continue to align with national strategies, driven by technological innovation and collaborative efforts, to promote the practical application of agricultural scientific achievements. These efforts aim to contribute to the acceleration of agricultural modernization and the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.