Advancements in BVDV Control: Gene Editing Creates Promising Model for Virus-Free Cows

2023-07-11 21:20:00

BVDV or Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus is one of the viruses affecting cow health worldwide. May cause damage to pregnant cows. This is because the virus can infect the developing calf.

It causes spontaneous abortion and low birth rate. although it does not affect humans But it is highly contagious among cattle and can cause respiratory disease. and severe intestinal It was first seen in the 1940s.

Although a vaccine has been available for more than 50 years, BVDV control remains a problem. Because vaccines are not always effective in stopping the spread of infection. thus causing damage to the US livestock sector billions of dollars annually

20 years ago, scientists discovered the main cellular receptor CD46 and the site where the virus binds to the receptor. cause infection in cattle therefore fixing the virus capture position to prevent infection It uses gene editing to slightly alter CD46 so the cells don’t bind to the virus. but still all normal functioning This expected result was seen in the laboratory.

Scientists from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), University of Nebras ka-Lincoln (UNL), University of Kentucky, and industry partners Acceligen and Recombinetics, Inc. developed cow skin cells. to develop embryos with modified genes These embryos were transplanted into surrogate cows. To test whether this method will reduce viral infection in animals. that is alive or not

And then this method works. The first CD46-edited calf, Ginger, was born on July 19, 2021. Ginger was observed for several months.

and later tested for viruses To determine whether or not he was infected, Ginger had to stay in the barn for a week with a BVDV-infected dairy calf that was born with the spread of the virus.

The BVDV virus did not cause any problems for Ginger’s cells, making this calf a promising model for future cows.

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#Calf #gene #editing #fights #BVDV #virus

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