The Q653R substitution in the spike protein is associated with attenuation of a GVI-1 infectious bronchitis virus strain

The GVI-1 genotype of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) has become increasingly prevalent in Asia. In this study, a highly pathogenic GVI-1 strain (GVI-1-WT) was attenuated by 110 serial passages in embryonated chicken eggs, yielding an attenuated strain (GVI-1-E110). Comparative genomic analysis identified two amino acid substitutions, S523I, Q653R and a nine-amino-acid truncation in the spike (S) protein. To evaluate the contribution of the two point mutations to virulence attenuation, recombinant viruses carrying Q653R and S523I substitutions were generated using a reverse genetics system based on the GVI-1-WT strain as the backbone. Their replication and pathogenicity were assessed in embryonated eggs and specific pathogen-free chickens. The Q653R substitution was associated with reduced viral replication in embryonated chicken eggs and pathogenicity in specific pathogen-free chickens, whereas the S523I mutation alone showed a limited effect but enhanced attenuation when combined with Q653R. However, the attenuation phenotype of the recombinant viruses did not fully recapitulate that of the passaged strain GVI-1-E110, suggesting that additional mutations, including the identified truncation and mutations in replicase-associated genes outside the S protein, may also contribute to virulence attenuation. This study indicates that spike protein mutations are involved in the attenuation of GVI-1 IBV strains, and provides insights into the molecular basis of IBV attenuation during serial passage. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to evaluate their potential relevance for vaccine development.