title: Strategies to enhance the safety profile of xenotransplantation: minimizing the risk of viral zoonoses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pig-to-human xenotransplantation has taken steps closer to reality through advances in animal engineering to address immunological as well as microbial problems. The most highlighted problem in xenotransplantation safety has been the potential risk for zoonotic infection mediated by porcine endogenous retroviruses. Safety issues regarding viral zoonosis, particularly porcine endogenous retroviruses, are summarized and commented upon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several molecular, transgenic strategies to provide safer transplant source animals with less porcine endogenous retrovirus infectivity have been developed. A genomics approach by selective breeding and porcine endogenous retrovirus loci knockout is at least theoretically possible. For other viruses, advances have been made in technologies for virus discovery and identification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consequences of possible zoonoses in xenotransplantation are largely unknown. Further work to identify and control potential zoonotic agents based on recent progress will improve the safety profile of xenotransplantation. Advances made should be subjected to cautious testing in well controlled, preclinical and clinical experiments.
authors.affiliation: Wohl Virion Centre, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattiuzzo
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scobie
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D012190:Retroviridae; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology