Xenotransplantation literature update for September – October 2020

Xenotransplantation Literature Update January/February 2021

“…However, there is a need for more data to conclusively determine the origin and identify intermediate host species replicating SARS‐CoV‐2 to prevent the establishment of future host reservoirs. Among livestock, reports of serious disease outbreaks suggesting a species jump of SARS‐CoV‐2 have not been reported to date, but evidence that pigs can be experimentally infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 may pose an additional risk 5 . Species jump or spillover describes SARS‐CoV‐2 entering new hosts requiring adaption of the viral RNA into the new host and involves three identified stages in successful host switching 6 .…”

Updateon xenotransplantation for May/June 2021

“…Significant work toward translating xenotransplantation through clinical trials has resulted in proposals to various government bodies 5 . These trials having been stimulated by the overwhelming success of associated preclinical studies showing that life‐sustaining kidney xenografts can now last for more than 500 days, islets more than 600 days, and orthotopic heart xenografts for more than 200 days in the necessary preclinical nonhuman primate models 6–8 …”

“…Although xenotransplantation has shown promise toward clinical transplantation, zoonoses association is a burden 5 . Porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses (PLHVs) are gammaherpesviruses that are widespread in pigs and are related to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, which cause severe diseases in humans 70–72 .…”