Scottish scientists rear resistant to ASF pigs

European domestic pigs are planning to plant a gene from their African relatives - warthogs, which will make them immune to African swine fever.

The genetics of the Roslin Institute in Scotland are developing, Sputnik reports.

"Changing the genome provides an opportunity to increase food security by reducing animal losses from infectious diseases. Our results bring us closer to an understanding of these advantages and, in particular, are among the most important problem of infectious diseases for agriculture around the world, " says lead researcher Professor Alan Archibald.

Scientists are going to plant pigs, are bred for sale in European countries, a gene found in some breeds of African swine, responsible for natural resistance to ASF. Wild boars and domestic pigs in the region have the RELA gene, which causes a strong immune response to viral infections and is responsible for the rapid development of their disease.

Genetics from the Roslin Institute modified this gene, bringing it closer to a similar variant of the warthog. Experts are sure that this will make animals much more resistant to ASF. It is assumed that pigs will not be sick, even if they are carriers of the virus.

Experiment scientists conducted on fertilized eggs of domestic pigs, the first genetically modified piglets were born. At the moment, genetics are studying them to confirm their guess about the stability of warthogs to ASF.

African swine fever is one of the most serious problems facing breeders around the world today. According to statistics, only in Europe the incidence of ASF harms the economy by more than 1.5 billion euros per year.