Abstract

Targeted Genetic Engineering in the Pig: An Emerging Biomedical Model

Wilfred Kues, Principal Investigator, Friedrich Loeffler Institut

Livestock animals, such as pig and sheep, have a long-standing tradition as models in transplantation medicine, pharmacology, immunology and circulatory system surgery. Only recently, the methodological toolbox for performing precise genetic modifications of large mammals has advanced to practical use, employing the emerging tools of programmable nucleases and transposons. It is anticipated that the full implementation of these techniques for genetic modification of farm animals will i) allow to produce better suited models of human diseases, ii) promote drug development, and iii) lead to improved safety and efficacy assessments of novel therapies.