New research by the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and Acceligen shows genetically modified pigs lacking CD163 PSTII-domain-coding exon 13 are completely resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV).
This research was published in Antiviral Research and shows the gene-edited pigs were completely resistant to PRRSV-2 infection.
“It is very rare in swine disease research to have an idea evolve from a concept outlined on a piece of paper to a new product that will help producers eliminate a dreaded disease. None of this would have been possible without the partnership with Acceligen,” Professor Raymond Rowland at the University of Illinois, a senior author on the paper and a world-recognized expert on PRRSV, said in a release.
PRRSV results in substantial economic harm to pig farms on a global scale, resulting in approximately $664 million in direct losses in the U.S. alone and up to $1.5 billion Euros each year in Europe.
“Effective treatments are currently unavailable and modified-live vaccines offer only partial protection from a rapidly spreading infection. There are various mitigation strategies if a swine operation is infected, including herd closure or complete depopulation. Both options can incur expenses and raise concerns about the well-being of the animals,” Acceligen, a subsidiary of Recombinetics Inc., said in a release.
Acceligen primarily functions in the livestock gene-editing industry, providing livestock improvements for animal health and well-being that in turn empower farmers to increase sustainable production, the company said.
“The economic impact of utilizing PRRSV-resistant pigs may be positive and significant for the pork industry, eliminating the need for severe mitigation strategies and costly care. Ultimately, a healthier pig population contributes to a more sustainable and economically viable swine industry,” Rocco Morelli, CEO Recombinetics Inc., said.
Tad Sonstegard, co-author and CEO of Acceligen, believes the results of this research demonstrate Acceligen’s approach to breed PRRSV-resistant pigs, opening alternatives for making this trait available to the entire industry.
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Acceligen Announces Breeding of Gene-Edited Pigs with Resistance to PRRS
