Disease-resistant animals: gene editing for endemic and emerging infections

Infectious diseases pose a sustained threat to animal health, food security, and public welfare worldwide. Endemic pathogens such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), bovine tuberculosis, African swine fever, avian influenza and aquatic diseases like infectious salmon anaemia cause significant economic losses and prolonged animal suffering. At the same time, emerging and re-emerging zoonotic agents continue to challenge existing surveillance and biosecurity frameworks. Conventional control measures - including vaccination, antimicrobial treatment, biosecurity protocols, and selective breeding - have delivered important gains but often fall short against rapidly evolving or newly introduced pathogens, highlighting the urgent need for more durable and scalable solutions.Genome editing technologies, including CRISPR-Cas systems, base editors, and prime editors, now offer a precise and heritable route to engineer disease resistance directly into the genome of livestock, aquaculture species, companion animals, and wildlife. By targeting host susceptibility factors, viral entry receptors, or innate immune regulatory pathways, researchers can generate animals that resist infection at the genetic level. These advances hold the potential to reduce reliance on antimicrobials, lower disease burden across production systems, and contribute to broader One Health goals by limiting the spread of zoonotic disease at the animal-human interface.This Research Topic aims to consolidate current progress and stimulate new work in the field. It welcomes original research articles, systematic reviews, and perspective pieces covering, but not limited to:- Identification and functional validation of host susceptibility genes, viral receptors, and restriction factors as targets for disease-resistance editing- Application of CRISPR-Cas, base editing, prime editing, and other genome editing platforms in livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and other animal species- Functional characterization of edited animals, including immune profiling, pathogen challenge studies, and long-term phenotypic assessment- Multiplex editing strategies designed to broaden resistance and reduce the risk of pathogen escape-Development of gene edited diagnostic assays and vaccines with functional validation- Risk assessment, biosafety evaluation, and animal welfare considerations associated with disease-resistant edited animals.- Regulatory frameworks, stakeholder perspectives, and pathways toward the responsible commercialization of genome-edited animals for disease control. Topic editors: GAUTHAM KOLLURI, Arjun Challagulla, Martina Crispo, Zhiwei Liao Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82917/disease-resistant-animals-gene-editing-for-endemic-and-emerging-infections