Roadmap for the development of disease control strategies for coronaviruses

Genetic selection

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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

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

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

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

Genome editing technology, especially CRISPR/Cas mediated gene knock-out/knock-in and precise modification, improved the efficiency of disease resistance animal breeding. Zhiguo et al 2022 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9266401/
CRISPR has been used to produce Coronavirus resistant pigs, by editing a presumed receptor of the transmissible gastroenteritis virus Whitworth et al 2019 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-018-0100-3?utm_source=getftr&utm_medium=getftr&utm_campaign=getftr_pilot