April 17, 2025 | 05:21 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Friday- 08:29, 01/03/2024

Genus step closer to breeding PRRS-resistant pigs

(VAN) Genetics company Genus, the mother company of breeder PIC, has completed a next step in the research to pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).

The wait is now for an approval of the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

Photo: Ronald Hissink

Photo: Ronald Hissink

The research project involves gene editing, a suitable application to use in cases where a single gene is involved; in this case, knocking out a single gene for the production of the surface protein. These gene edits result in pigs that lack a protein on their cell surfaces which enables entry of the PRRS virus.

ALSO READ: Interview Dr Lucina Galina (PIC): Searching for a solution to PRRS via genetics

Healthy pigs resisting PRRS

Genus geneticists reported about the latest development in a new scientific paper, published in The CRISPR Journal, a peer-reviewed title dedicated to gene editing.

The team “produced healthy pigs that resisted PRRS virus infection as determined by macrophage and animal challenges. This founder population will be used for additional disease and trait testing, multiplication and commercial distribution upon regulatory approval.”

The team completed the gene edit by injecting pig zygotes (fertilised eggs) with Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria with the gene editing complex CRISPR-Cas9 and ribonucleoprotein (RNP).

This involved the synchronising of the oestrous cycles of donor and surrogate gilts. Donor animals were artificially inseminated twice. About 16 hours later, presumptive zygotes were harvested and injected with the RNP/Cas9, and donor sows were then inseminated.

In their paper the team noted that “generation of this founder population was not without challenges” (for example, only about 20% of pigs carried the intended commercial edit).

Parent lines

In relation to Genus activities, Prof Alison Van Eenennaam, cooperative extension in animal genomics and biotechnology at University of California, Davis, noted recently in a US media outlet that to move to commercial breeding of these pigs across the industry, the gene edit must be introduced into all of the parent lines that make up the four-way cross that’s common in many breeding programmes.

These are the Duroc, Landrace, Large White and the ‘synthetic’ grandparent stock. Furthermore, a homozygous gene edit (both DNA strands) is needed.

To do this, Genus has determined it needed to edit 10 to 20 ‘high genetic merit’ pigs in each of the 4 parent lines.

H.D

(PP)

U.S. spacecraft brings Vietnamese lotus seeds into space

U.S. spacecraft brings Vietnamese lotus seeds into space

(VAN) 169 lotus seeds selected by the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences were carried into space by Vietnamese-American astronaut Amanda Nguyen.

China put steep tariffs on U.S. exports. Farmers are worried

China put steep tariffs on U.S. exports. Farmers are worried

(VAN) Tariffs are making life more expensive for John Pihl. He's been farming in Northern Illinois for more than 50 years.

New US tariffs spark alarm among EU and US farming groups

New US tariffs spark alarm among EU and US farming groups

(VAN) European and American farmer organisations are concerned about the import tariffs that the United States introduced on 9 April for products from the European Union. This makes them 20% more expensive.

Strong poultry markets with geopolitical risks

Strong poultry markets with geopolitical risks

(VAN) Global poultry trade is expected to remain strong amid relatively tight global protein supply and growing consumption, RaboResearch concludes in its latest animal protein report.

Big, biodiverse and beautiful: can Romania’s centuries-old giant haystacks survive modern farming?

Big, biodiverse and beautiful: can Romania’s centuries-old giant haystacks survive modern farming?

(VAN) Traditional methods benefit hundreds of species but as new agricultural techniques take over, the distinctive haystacks mark a vanishing way of life.

Banks see a dire climate future - and ways to profit

Banks see a dire climate future - and ways to profit

(VAN) The nation’s top banks are quietly advising their clients on how to build a financial life raft - or perhaps life yacht - from the wreckage of runaway climate change.

Conflict and rising food prices drive Congolese into one of the world's worst food crises

Conflict and rising food prices drive Congolese into one of the world's worst food crises

(VAN) From FAO Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Read more