US Patent Issued to The Curators of the University of Missouri on Feb. 11 for "Pathogen-resistant animals having modified CD163 genes" (Missouri Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,219,939, issued on Feb. 11, was assigned to The Curators of the University of Missouri (Columbia, Mo.).

"Pathogen-resistant animals having modified CD163 genes" was invented by Randall S. Prather (Rocheport, Mo.), Kevin D. Wells (Columbia, Mo.) and Kristin M. Whitworth (Columbia, Mo.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Non-human animals and offspring thereof comprising at least one modified chromosomal sequence in a gene encoding a CD163 protein are provided. Animal cells that contain such modified chromosomal sequences are also provided. The animals and cells have increased resistance to pathogens, including porcine reproductive and respirat...