Xenotransplantation and risks of zoonotic infections

摘要: The shortage of human organs and tissues for transplantation the advances in immunology rejection genetic engineering have renewed interest xenotransplantation--the animal organs, or cells to humans. Clinical trials involved use non-human primate, porcine, bovine cells/tissues/organs. In recent years, research has focused mainly on pigs as donors (especially, genetically engineered carry some genes). One major concerns xenotransplantation is risk transmission pathogens, particularly viruses, recipients possible adaptation such pathogens human-to-human transmission. Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) been special concern because their ability infect because, at present, they cannot be removed from source animal's genome. To date, retrospective studies humans exposed live porcine cells/tissues not found evidence infection with PERV but more extensive needed. This article reviews infectious disease risks associated xenotransplantation, measures minimizing that risk, microbiological diagnostic methods may used follow-up xenotransplant recipients.