To test whether the process worked, the team tested different extracts from dog saliva, hair, and dander on a human volunteer (Walker) to see if they would cause any reaction. Following a skin prick test, Walker’s arm showed allergic reactions to extracts from poodle and goldendoodle samples (two dog breeds that are sometimes touted as “hypoallergenic”), but showed no reaction to extracts from the two genetically edited beagles.
“These findings provide proof-of-principle that precise genome editing can be used to selectively eliminate an environmental allergen at its biological source, representing a conceptual departure from conventional allergy therapeutics that primarily act by modulating the patient’s immune response,” the paper says.
But genetically edited pets could have a negative side as well, said Emily Singler, VMD, veterinarian and Veterinary Content Specialist for AAHA.
“While there’s undoubtedly a market for truly hypoallergenic pets, this type of technology has the potential to encourage those looking to adopt a new pet to look toward purchasing a gene-edited pet over a pet sitting in a shelter in need of a new home,” Singler said. “While this and other types of genome editing are likely years from being widely available and will probably not be able to compete cost-wise with the cost of a shelter adoption, it’s worth considering the effects such technology may have on pet overpopulation.”
Since their birth, Alfie and Bailey have been monitored by veterinarians for any adverse effects from the procedure, and have “exhibited no clinically apparent health abnormalities to date,” the researchers said.
Walker admits that while the study shows that the procedure is possible, it is not meant to prove anything beyond its immediate scope—for now.
“This work was designed as a targeted proof-of-concept study rather than a comprehensive assessment of genome-wide editing outcomes or population-level phenotypes,” he wrote.
However, Walker noted that his company, Kindred Companion Sciences, did submit a patent for the procedure, so someday in the not-too-distant future we may see more genetically edited dogs.
