Sneezing is not caused by hair, but by a protein found in saliva
It has long been thought that cat dander is the main cause of allergies, but in fact the main culprit is a protein called Fel d 1. This protein is secreted by a cat's salivary and sebaceous glands. When a cat cleans itself by licking itself, the protein is transferred to the fur, dries, and spreads into the air in tiny particles, even lingering on furniture and clothing for months. Nearly 90 percent of human cat allergies are caused by this one specific protein.
The researchers compared the genomes of 50 domestic cats with genetic data from eight different wild cat species. It turned out that the genes responsible for the production of the Fel d 1 protein, CH1 and CH2, differ significantly between species. Because this protein has changed so much during evolution and its absence does not prevent some species from surviving, the researchers concluded that Fel d 1 is not essential for the cat's vital functions. This knowledge gave the green light to silence the genes without risking the animal's health.
Experiments on the laboratory bench and future perspectives
Scientists at the InBio laboratory used CRISPR-Cas9 technology, or so-called gene scissors, to cut out the sequences responsible for the production of Fel d 1 from the DNA of cat cells. Experiments showed that the gene editing worked effectively and the modified cells no longer secreted the protein with allergenic properties, while the normal development and viability of the cells were fully preserved.
This is a fundamental change in allergy treatment. While currently available special diets or injections can only temporarily reduce allergen levels in the body, gene editing makes it possible to create kittens that are allergy-free from birth and throughout their lives. Before the technology can be applied to live animals, scientists face additional safety studies, but the initial results give confidence that a safe and effective solution is within reach.
From the source
The article is based on peer-reviewed scientific reviews, which are based on data from studies published by the biotechnology company InBio and in the scientific journals The CRISPR Journal and PASC Nexus .
