Establishment of Integration-Free iPSCs from Diverse Porcine Species: A Novel Resource for Conservation and African Swine Fever Research
Bao, Q.; Yingyan LIM, C.; Yeo, H. L.; PUNYAWAI, K.; HSU, C. D.; CHONG, S. M.; XIE, S.; LOH, J. Y.-H.; NG, S. C.; pomp, O.
Show abstract
The accelerating biodiversity crisis, compounded by emerging infectious diseases like African swine fever (ASF), necessitate innovative conservation and disease management. ASF susceptibility varies wildly across species, from near-100% mortality in Asian suids to asymptomatic carriage in African forest species. We report the first successful derivation of integration-free induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from four phylogenetically distinct species: wild boar (Sus scrofa), Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus), Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa), and Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus). Using Sendai virus-mediated reprogramming, we achieved efficiencies between 0.003% and 0.26%. These iPSCs were successfully differentiated into CD14CD11b monocytes - the primary target cells for the ASF virus - establishing a renewable, comparative research platform. This system enables host-pathogen studies previously hindered by ethical and logistical constraints of wildlife sampling. Beyond disease research, these iPSC lines serve as vital genetic repositories for endangered suids. Our methodology provides a replicable framework for extending stem cell technology to other conservation-priority taxa, demonstrating how high-tech cellular tools can advance both fundamental research and biodiversity preservation against emerging pathogen threats.
Matching journals
The top 8 journals account for 50% of the predicted probability mass.