US EditionGene-Edited Pigs Resistant to Swine Fever Could Boost Animal Welfare
Gene-edited pigs resistant to classical swine fever offer a new tool to reduce losses in global pig farming, with findings published by researchers at the University of Edinburgh.
- On Wednesday, researchers at The Roslin Institute engineered pigs resistant to classical swine fever, publishing the study in Trends in Biotechnology at 16:00 UK time on Wednesday 22 October 2025.
- Classical swine fever remains highly contagious and often fatal, causing major economic harm to farmers; vaccination campaigns using live, weakened-virus vaccines are laborious and costly, risking outbreaks if disrupted.
- Using CRISPR gene editing, the team changed one amino acid in the DNAJC14 protein, blocking virus replication; gene-edited pigs showed no symptoms, antibodies, or virus, unlike unedited control pigs.
- Genus funded the work and is considering commercialisation while awaiting export approvals, and APHA's Helen Crooke called the results promising, saying `Classical swine fever is a devastating disease for livestock and farmers`.
- The Edinburgh team is now investigating gene edits in cattle and sheep, while researchers say gene-edited pigs could improve welfare and support sustainable livestock production; England plans to approve plants soon but lacks livestock rules.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Classical swine fever is a dreaded disease. Now pigs that are resistant to the virus are to be bred.
A group of UK scientists managed to create pigs that can defy swine fever. The animals remained in good health even when they had to inhale the highly contagious virus.
Gene-Edited Pigs Could End Swine Fever Outbreaks
Scottish scientists have engineered swine that are resistant to classical swine fever, a highly contagious disease that has killed countless pigs. In trials, the gene-edited animals stayed healthy after being exposed to the virus, which has caused major losses in pig farming globally despite being officially eradicated in many regions,...
The so-called classical swine fever currently does not breed in this country, but remains dangerous. Researchers now want animals to be made resistant. They changed their cells - which puts farmers in front of hurdles. By Veronika Simon.
With a gene shear, researchers have bred pigs that are immune to a swine fever virus. This makes experts dream of more sustainable livestock farming.
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