조류 독감에 저항성을 갖는 형질전환 닭이 나왔네요.
당장 상업화는 되지 않겠지만, 전염병을 형질전환 동물로 해결하려는 시도가
지속적으로 증가할 것으로 보입니다. 이 논문이 Science 에 실린 이유도
그런 추세를 반영한 게 아닌가 합니다. (antisys… 코멘트)
Suppression of Avian Influenza Transmission in Genetically Modified Chickens
Infection of chickens with avian influenza virus poses a global threat to both poultry production and
human health that is not adequately controlled by vaccination or by biosecurity measures. A novel
alternative strategy is to develop chickens that are genetically resistant to infection. We generated
transgenic chickens expressing a short-hairpin RNA designed to function as a decoy that inhibits
and blocks influenza virus polymerase and hence interferes with virus propagation. Susceptibility to
primary challenge with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and onward transmission dynamics
were determined. Although the transgenic birds succumbed to the initial experimental challenge,
onward transmission to both transgenic and nontransgenic birds was prevented.
