Scientists at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute successfully engineered pigs that demonstrate complete resistance to classical swine fever (CSF), a highly contagious and destructive viral agent threatening global pork production. This significant advance utilizes precise genetic modification to fortify agricultural sustainability and animal welfare, moving beyond traditional reactive disease control measures.
The core of the innovation involved targeting and altering the gene responsible for producing the DNAJC14 protein, which is crucial for the CSF virus to replicate within host cells. In controlled trials conducted with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), unmodified control pigs invariably contracted the disease and showed high virus levels. Conversely, the genetically refined pigs exhibited absolute resistance, showing no adverse health effects, symptoms, or detectable viral presence after exposure to the live virus.
Classical swine fever represents a persistent economic drain, particularly impacting major pork-producing regions across Asia and Latin America. Outbreaks can lead to massive herd culling and financial devastation, with past incidents in the UK alone resulting in the culling of 75,000 pigs since the 1960s. This new prophylactic approach promises a paradigm shift by potentially reducing reliance on costly vaccination programs and mitigating the need for widespread depopulation.
Researchers noted that several generations of the gene-edited pigs were monitored, and no adverse effects on their health or fertility were observed. This success suggests a viable pathway toward cultivating livestock intrinsically equipped to thrive amidst biological threats. The technique aligns with broader efforts in applying gene-editing strategies to enhance food security, following similar work targeting other pathogens like the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus.