Genus step closer to breeding PRRS-resistant pigs

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.

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.