Conserved Epitope Mapping of Potato Virus Y for Broad-Spectrum Antigen Design: Implications for Plant Immune Recognition and Diagnostic Innovation

Abstract

| Potato virus Y (PVY) is a major plant pathogen affecting solanaceous crops, particularly potato and tomato, leading to significant economic losses. The viral coat protein (CP) is essential for virion stability, host interactions, and immune recognition. Identifying conserved and variable epitopes within the PVY CP provides insights into viral evolution, host adaptation, and potential targets for disease control. This study aimed to investigate the conservation and sequence variability of key PVY CP epitopes across diverse geographic locations and host species. By analyzing the epitope sequences, this study identified the conserved regions suitable for diagnostic tools and the variations indicative of viral adaptation. A comparative sequence analysis of PVY strains from different regions was conducted. Multiple sequence alignments determined identity percentages, conserved motifs, and variations in epitopes, including PVY-CP-A,-D,-F,-G,-H, and-I. Most epitopes exhibited high conservation. PVY-CP-A showed 100 % identity in most strains, with slight variations (91.67 %) in a Greek isolate. PVY-CP-D and-F were largely conserved, with minor variations (87.50 %) recorded in Poland and Bangladesh. PVY-CP-G displayed reduced identity (83.33%) in Poland, China, and Bangladesh, suggesting adaptation. PVY-CP-H was completely conserved, reinforcing its structural importance. PVY-CP-I showed the highest conservation, with minor variations in the UK and China. These findings highlight the conserved PVY epitopes as potential targets for universal diagnostic tools and control strategies. Minor variations suggest regional adaptations, influencing pathogenicity, and host interactions. This study provides valuable insights into PVY evolution, aiding in improved virus detection and diagnosis development.