Experts Use CRISPR to Fight African Swine Fever Virus

A study conducted by researchers from China shows promising results in developing transgenic pigs with acquired resistance against the devastating effects of the Asian Swine Fever (ASF) virus. Their study, published in Microbiology Spectrum, is the first to engineer a living organism to assess resistance to ASF infection through the CRISPR-Cas system.

ASF is a highly contagious disease that affects domestic and wild pigs, causing significant economic implications for the swine industry. The disease does not pose risks to human health but often leads to the death of several affected animals within a short time. To fight this highly fatal viral disease, the researchers aimed to suppress ASF virus replication and infection through a multiplexed CRISPR-Cas system.

The researchers observed slower spread of the virus and delayed onset of ASF symptoms in the transgenic pigs due to the anti-ASF CRISPR-Cas system. However, they also observed that there are no significant survival advantages for transgenic pigs compared to wild-type pigs. Although CRISPR-Cas was not sufficient to prevent ASF virus replication, the findings of the study open significant opportunities for future research in editing the genes of pigs to develop ASF-resistant pigs.

For more information, read the article from Microbiology Spectrum.