Z2

Z2: Microbiological safety including virological safety

Aim of project Z2 is the evaluation of the microbial safety of xenotransplants. This does include breeding, testing and selection of donor animals, organs, tissues and cells. Topic is the development and validation of highly sensitive detection methods. In case of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV), which are part of the pig genome, gene editing will be performed for inactivation of PERV in co-operation with projects B1, B2 and B3. Influence of gene editing will be analysed on the RNA level by microarray technology and RNA-Seq as well as by functional testing in vitro. The methods developed will also be used to monitor recipients of xenotransplants in non-clinical and clinical trials.