Developing a rapid, adaptable point-of-care diagnostic pipeline and device for the fast-mutating PRRSV

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), or blue ear disease, causes considerable economic losses in the global pig farming industry. The virus's high mutation rate leads to the emergence of new variants and reinfections in adult pigs, making current control measures challenging. Vaccines provide limited protection against new strains, underscoring the critical need for effective control programs to mitigate the virus's impact.

However, commercially available PCR kits used to detect the virus have limited sensitivity and are update only once a year, making them inadequate for detecting emerging strains. A new diagnostic test that can quickly and accurately detect all PRRS strains is urgently required.

Our proposed solution utilizes high-throughput sequencing, machine-learning-aided primer design, fast response validation, and customized point-of-care testing (POCT) to revolutionize PRRS surveillance. This approach improves control measures' efficiency and enables adaptation to locally emerging strains of fast-mutating viruses like PRRS.

Our existing POCT device and testing kit based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification technology have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity against the African swine fever virus. We plan to modify our current POCT products to design a PRRS panel to detect and genotype prevalent strains in Spain. We will build a database of whole-genome PRRSV sequences generated from samples we regularly collect from pig farms in collaboration with our Spanish partners, enabling us to respond to emerging strains quickly.

Implementing fast and reliable diagnosis systems against PRRS will lead to unprecedented efficiency and reliability in managing pig livestock. This, in turn, will improve agricultural productivity, resulting in economic progress. Moreover, our technology will align with consumer values, fostering ethical and sustainable farming practices and significantly improving animal welfare. Advancing the social impact of pig farming is an essential outcome of our innovative biotechnology research.