Gene editing of pigs to control influenza A virus infections.

Proteolytic activation of the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein by host cellular proteases is pivotal for influenza A virus (IAV) infectivity. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses possess the multibasic cleavage site of the HA which is cleaved by ubiquitous proteases, such as furin; in contrast, the monobasic HA motif is recognized and activated by trypsin-like proteases, such as the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). Here, we aimed to determine the effects of TMPRSS2 on the replication of pandemic H1N1 and H3N2 subtype IAVs in the natural host, the pig. The use of the CRISPR/Cas 9 system led to the establishment of homozygous gene edited (GE) TMPRSS2 knockout (KO) pigs. Delayed IAV replication was demonstrated in primary respiratory cells of KO pigs in vitro. IAV infection in vivo resulted in significant reduction of virus shedding in the upper respiratory tract, and lower virus titers and pathological lesions in the lower respiratory tract of TMPRSS2 KO pigs as compared to wild-type pigs. Our findings support the commercial use of GE pigs to mitigate influenza A virus infection in pigs, as an alternative approach to prevent zoonotic influenza A transmissions from pigs to human.

Gene editing of pigs to control influenza A virus infections.

Proteolytic activation of the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein by host cellular proteases is pivotal for influenza A virus (IAV) infectivity. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses possess the multibasic cleavage site of the HA which is cleaved by ubiquitous proteases, such as furin; in contrast, the monobasic HA motif is recognized and activated by trypsin-like proteases, such as the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). Here, we aimed to determine the effects of TMPRSS2 on the replication of pandemic H1N1 and H3N2 subtype IAVs in the natural host, the pig. The use of the CRISPR/Cas 9 system led to the establishment of homozygous gene edited (GE) TMPRSS2 knockout (KO) pigs. Delayed IAV replication was demonstrated in primary respiratory cells of KO pigs in vitro. IAV infection in vivo resulted in significant reduction of virus shedding in the upper respiratory tract, and lower virus titers and pathological lesions in the lower respiratory tract of TMPRSS2 KO pigs as compared to WT pigs. Our findings could support the commercial use of GE pigs to minimize (i) the economic losses caused by IAV infection in pigs, and (ii) the emergence of novel IAVs with pandemic potential through genetic reassortment in the "mixing vessel", the pig.

Fiber muscle types in adult female pigs as determined by combinating histochemical and immunohistochemical methods

Las fibras musculares esqueléticas del cerdo han sido tradicionalmente tipificadas como I, IIA y IIB, más sus formas híbridas, determinando la actividad de la enzima miosina ATPasa miofibrilar. Recientemente, la utilización de anticuerpos monoclonales contra isoformas de cadena pesada de miosina, electroforesis y estudios moleculares, han documentado la existencia, además, de la isoforma IIx. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la existencia de las isoformas de miosina, presentes en los distintos tipos fibrilares, utilizando técnics histoquímicas e inmunohistoquímicas combinadas, dentro de una unidad experimental compuesta por muestras musculares del M. longissimo del dorso, en cerdas de 150 kg promedio. Las muestras fueron obtenidas 45 minutos después de la faena, mediante escisión y congeladas en acetona enfriada con hielo seco. Cortes seriados de 10 µm de espesor fueron tratados por la técnicas de mATPasa modificada por Nwoye (1982), a pH 4,6, NADH-TR e inmunohistoquímica. Histoquímicamente fueron identificados cinco grupos de fibras: tipo I oscuras, IIA claras, y tres tipos intermedios. Los ensayos inmunohistoquímicos permitieron identificar las isoformas ß lenta I, IIa, IIx y IIb presentes en fibras de tipo I, IIA, IIX, IIB y un grupo híbrido IIAX