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Coronaviruses roadmap:
Control Strategies

Roadmap for the development of disease control strategies for coronaviruses

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Genetic selection

Genetic selection

Research Question

  • Breed livestock, wildlife and pets that are resistant to infections and less susceptible to disease. This section is designed around the discussion of host genetics

Research Gaps and Challenges

  • Disease resistance is a complex and polygenic trait, often with varying host-responses across species
  • Consequences of genetic improvement for health on other physiological traits. For the agricultural sector, we also need to consider the impact of changes in physiology on economic, animal welfare, ethical concerns and social acceptance of gene selection
  • Consequences of introducing genetic mutations on the subsequent food safety and regulation of animal-derived products
  • Availability and adaptability of the new breeds to extreme climates and/or LMICs
  • Lacking resources e.g. high-quality full genome sequences (including metagenomics data and getting access to that), that would allow us to perform the genome manipulation

Solution Routes

  • Creation and exchange of open databases, improving the access to genomics data for host species
  • Identification and characterization of suitable genes that confer resistance to infection
  • Genetic selection and gene editing (e.g. CRISPR) of production animals (including testing native breeds rather than existing commonly used breeds in production)
  • Development and validation of diagnostic tools to confirm the presence/absence of inserted/modified genes and resistance to infection by standardized diagnostic pen-side approaches

Dependencies

  • Basic science to understand the intricacies of early-stage infection across a range of host animal species
  • Genome-sequencing of many animal species, including native breeds and wildlife that may typically be underrepresented compared to animal species commonly handled in laboratories for infection studies
  • Ethical and legal framework that allows for genetic modification to be performed and socially accepted

State Of the Art