Role of pAPN and NEU3 in TGEV Infection on Pig

  Objective  Role of aminopeptidase gene pAPN and sialic acid neuraminidase gene NEU3 in the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) infection on pigs was investigated.

  Methods  Being the main receptor of TGEV, pAPN was removed from pAPN and NEU3 in ST cells to verify its supposed key function on the disease. The CRISPR gene editing technique was applied to clip the target gene in ST cells prior to an artificial TGEV infection test. The resulting changes on the infection, virus copy number, cytopathic improvement, and fibronectin were monitored.

  Results  Compared with control, the ST cells free of pAPN and NEU3 significantly attenuated TGEV infection-induced cytopathies and the virus copy number. In addition, at a same TGEV titer the mRNA immune responders induced by the knockdown ST cells were significantly lower than the wild-type counterparts.

  Conclusion  It was confirmed that the removal of pAPN and NEU3 inhibited the TGEV infection in pigs with reduced viral induced cytopathies. Thus, an antiviral therapy and a guideline for breeding resistant pigs could be developed by targeting these two key genes in the ST cells.