科学家Matt Walker及其公司Kindred Companion Sciences利用CRISPR基因编辑技术，成功培育出两只低致敏性比格犬Bailey和Alfie[1]。研究人员通过关闭产生致敏蛋白的基因，使这两只犬的唾液和毛发中不再含有主要的致敏蛋白[1]。这项研究于周三发表在《CRISPR期刊》上，标志着该诺贝尔奖获奖技术在犬类上的首次成功应用[1]。
为验证效果，Matt Walker用比格犬的唾液提取物进行了皮肤测试，结果显示无过敏反应，而他对贵宾犬和金毛混种犬的唾液提取物则有明显反应[1]。这两只健康的雌性比格犬于2024年9月成功诞生[1]。尽管这项技术前景广阔，可能为数百万宠物过敏患者带来新的选择[1]，但科研工作者仍需投入多年时间监测其长期健康影响，并探索使该技术成本可控的方式[1]。此外，生物伦理学家Arthur Caplan指出，这类技术的推广可能会劝阻人们收养流浪犬和未经基因工程改造的动物[1]。
Scientists at Kindred Companion Sciences have successfully created two gene-edited beagles using CRISPR technology, a Nobel Prize-winning genetic engineering technique, to produce dogs with significantly reduced allergens.[1] By disabling the primary gene responsible for producing allergenic proteins, the researchers eliminated the main allergen from the saliva and fur of the two female beagles, named Bailey and Alfie, which were born in September 2024.[1] Matt Walker, the lead scientist, tested the dogs' effectiveness by applying saliva extracts from a standard poodle-golden retriever mix to his skin, which triggered an allergic reaction, whereas extracts from the gene-edited beagles produced no response.[1]
The research was published on Wednesday in the CRISPR Journal, marking the first successful application of this genetic editing technique to dogs.[1] Walker's team aims to provide a new option for the millions of people worldwide who experience pet allergies, though significant challenges remain before the dogs become widely available.[1] The scientists must conduct years of monitoring to assess long-term health effects and develop methods to make the technology affordable for consumers.[1]
The development has raised ethical concerns among bioethicists.[1] Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist, warned that the availability of genetically modified hypoallergenic dogs could discourage people from adopting shelter animals and naturally occurring dogs.[1]