Genetic diversity, growth and heart function of Auckland Island pigs, a potential source for organ xenotransplantation.

One of the prerequisites for successful organ xenotransplantation is a reasonable size match between the porcine organ and the recipient's organ to be replaced. Therefore, the selection of a suitable genetic background of source pigs is important. In this study, we investigated body and organ growth, cardiac function, and genetic diversity of a colony of Auckland Island pigs established at the Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich.

Microbiological safety of the first clinical pig islet xenotransplantation trial in New Zealand.

Background: Xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues, or organs may be associated with the transmission of porcine microorganisms and the development of zoonoses. Among all porcine microorganisms porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) represent a special risk because they are integrated in the genome of all pigs and able to infect human cells. In previous preclinical and retrospective clinical trials of xenotransplantation, no transmission of PERV was observed.

Improving alginate-poly-L-ornithine-alginate capsule biocompatibility through genipin crosslinking.

DIABECELL® capsules comprise an inner core of alginate (Alg) coated with a polycationic polymer, poly-L-ornithine (PLO), designed as a stabilizing agent for strengthening the capsule wall, which is masked by an outer layer of biocompatible Alg. These polymeric microcapsules have demonstrated excellent mechanical properties and a reduction in hypoglycemia after tranplantation in human clinical trials; however, degradation of the outer Alg layer leaves the underlying layers of PLO exposed, which ultimately leads to reduced biocompatibility in vivo. Here we aim to improve capsule biocompatibility and to increase the hydrophilic properties of the capsule surface through chemical crosslinking/modification of the PLO layer using genipin.

Multiplex high resolution melting assay for estimation of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (PERV) relative gene dosage in pigs and detection of PERV infection in xenograft recipients.

Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (PERV) poses an infectious risk in the field of xenotransplantation. This risk may be mitigated by breeding selectively animals bearing favorable PERV genetic characteristics including pigs with low levels of PERV integrated in the genome. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay employing the Roche High Resolution Melting (HRM) Master was used to estimate the relative gene dosage of PERV pol integrated within the pig genome.

Virus and Infections 2010 - BIT's first world congress.

The World Congress of Virus and Infections, held in Busan, South Korea, included topics reviewing the field of zoonoses. This conference report highlights selected presentations on surveillance, epidemiology and measures for the control and prevention of zoonotic diseases. Topics discussed include human factors influencing zoonoses, the molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, the emerging Nipah virus, and the re-emergence of cowpox virus.