The prevention strategies of swine viruses related to xenotransplantation

Abstract

Xenotransplantation is considered a solution for the shortage of organs, and pigs play an indispensable role as donors in xenotransplantation. The biosecurity of pigs, especially the zoonotic viruses carried by pigs, has attracted attention. This review introduces several viruses, including porcine endogenous retroviruses that are integrated into the pig genome in a DNA form, herpesviruses that have been proven to clearly affect recipient survival time in previous xenotransplant surgeries, the zoonotic hepatitis E virus, and the widely distributed porcine circoviruses. The detail virus information, such as structure, caused diseases, transmission pathways, and epidemiology was introduced in the current review. Diagnostic and control measures for these viruses, including detection sites and methods, vaccines, RNA interference, antiviral pigs, farm biosecurity, and drugs, are discussed. The challenges faced, including those posed by other viruses and newly emerged viruses, and the challenges brought by the modes of transmission of the viruses are also summarized.

Mitigating Cross-Species Viral Infections in Xenotransplantation: Progress, Strategies, and Clinical Outlook

“…Numerous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods are at our disposal for the detection of PCMV, some of which yield longer amplicons, enhancing our ability to sequence and classify the detected PCMVs effectively 25 . However, it is important to note that certain PCR methods may occasionally yield false negatives 26 . Therefore, there is a need for the adoption of more sensitive PCR techniques.…”

“…Furthermore, an indirect-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method designed to detect the gB epitope has demonstrated impressive specificity at 98% and remarkable sensitivity at 97.8% 29 . In terms of the detection timeframe, real-time PCR offers a distinct advantage, as it facilitates the early detection of PCMV presence in piglets compared to antibody testing 12 , 26 .…”

“…This process involves two primary steps: initially, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is cleaved into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) through the activity of bacterial ribonuclease III (RNase III)-like enzymes. Subsequently, these siRNAs associate with the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and facilitate the degradation of target messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) 26 , 75 . In the context of PERV, its expression can be significantly reduced through the use of siRNA molecules that correspond to various segments of viral genes such as gag, pol, and env.…”

Xenotransplantation literature update March 2023–November 2023

“…Prevention and control measures for porcine viruses are of paramount importance. As recommended by Mao et al., key strategies include developing vaccines for these pathogens, monitoring them through next‐generation sequencing (NGS), creating a swine population suitable for heterografts that is free of zoonotic diseases, and fully addressing microbiological safety concerns 45 …”

Chimeric Livers: Interspecies Blastocyst Complementation and Xenotransplantation for End-Stage Liver Disease

“… 132 With this in mind, proper screening and surveillance of porcine xenografts will be of the utmost importance in order to ensure maximal safety and feasibility when utilizing xenotransplantation for the treatment of ESLD. 133 Nevertheless, there are myriad means by which the field is attempting to mitigate as much of the viral transmission risk as possible for porcine xenografts. Yang et.…”