Entry process of porcine arterivirus in macrophages and link with virulence/pathogenicity

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an arterivirus in pigs that has a specific tropism for monocytic cells. The last two decennia, the virus is genetically changing, resulting in the infection of more and more subsets of monocytic cells.
This causes higher virus replication and more disease. In the present project the basis of the monocyte switch will be examined.