Virus-Like Particles Enable Efficient Gene Editing in Pig and Chicken Models

Researchers have demonstrated that virus-like particles enable highly efficient gene editing across porcine and avian model systems, overcoming a major delivery challenge in livestock biotechnology. By evaluating virus-like particles as delivery vehicles for genome engineering tools in pigs and chickens, the study establishes an effective approach for manipulating two key livestock species at the human-animal interface. The research confirms that particle-mediated delivery supports genetic modification across diverse experimental platforms, spanning in vitro cell cultures, ex vivo tissue models, and in ovo developmental stages.

Pigs and chickens represent the most important livestock species for global food production while serving as key model organisms across various research disciplines. The pig is widely used in translational research due to its anatomical and physiological similarity to humans, offering valuable insights into immunology, metabolism, and disease mechanisms. In chickens, the species has become an essential model for studies related to poultry health, animal welfare, and developmental biology. Its externally developing embryo provides exceptional accessibility for direct experimental manipulation.

Recent advances in genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, have expanded the potential of porcine and avian species for functional genomic studies. However, the efficient delivery of these molecular tools into livestock target cells has remained a major challenge. To overcome this persistent delivery limitation, the researchers evaluated virus-like particles as delivery vehicles.

In porcine experimental systems, virus-like particle delivery enabled efficient Cre recombination and high CRISPR/Cas9 editing rates. The researchers observed robust editing outcomes across porcine cells, organoids, and oocytes. Editing rates were particularly high when multiplexed.

Virus-like particles supported robust Cre recombination and Cas9-mediated gene editing in chicken cell culture, tracheal organ cultures, and in ovo within developing eggs. Furthermore, reporter virus-like particles and dCas9 particles demonstrated the versatility of this platform across porcine and avian systems.

Together, these findings establish virus-like particles as an efficient and time-saving strategy for gene editing in livestock cultures across in vitro, ex vivo, and in ovo systems. The authors note potential future applications for animal health, agricultural productivity, and translational One Health research.

Subject of Research: Virus-like particle delivery of gene editing tools in livestock models

Article Title: Virus-like particles enable highly efficient gene editing across porcine and avian in vitro, ex vivo , and in ovo models

Article References: Pauli, T. M., von Heyl, T., Rieblinger, B., Schleibinger, S. T., Liang, W., Schmauser, A., Arullmoli, M., Derrer, P., Eckstein, A., Jagana, S., Gatti Corrêa, C., Flisikowski, K., Flisikowska, T., & Schusser, B. (2026). Virus-like particles enable highly efficient gene editing across porcine and avian in vitro, ex vivo, and in ovo models. PLOS Biology, 24(11), e3004105. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3004105

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3004105

Keywords: virus-like particles, CRISPR-Cas9, gene editing, porcine models, avian models, Cre recombination, dCas9, in ovo editing, ex vivo models, in vitro cell culture, tracheal organ cultures, porcine oocytes, porcine organoids, multiplexed editing, livestock genomics, translational research, One Health, poultry health