Overview
- Researchers changed a single amino acid in the pig protein DNAJC14, a host factor pestiviruses require to replicate, preventing infection.
- In controlled challenge tests, edited pigs showed no symptoms, no detectable virus and no antibody response, while control animals became ill.
- The modification introduced no foreign DNA, the protein’s normal function was preserved, and the animals developed without observed health issues in the small study.
- The resistance was reported to pass to offspring, indicating heritability that could support future breeding programs if validated at scale.
- EU rules currently bar food from genetically modified animals, whereas the U.S. FDA has already authorized breeding of other gene-edited, PRRS-resistant pigs, highlighting divergent regulatory paths.