Are you allergic to companion cats? If you are similar to the other 95% of cat allergy sufferers, you are more than likely to be allergic to the Fel d 1 protein, which is produced in the sebaceous and salivary glands of cats.
Now, researchers at InBio, a biotech company, have used sequencing and structural analysis of the protein to pinpoint the optimal areas to edit the Fel d 1 gene sequences by using the unique CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology.
Yes; this is gene editing, and, yes, it is controversial. CRISPR technology is revolutionizing treatment options for cancer, immunity and genetic diseases. The majority of scientists working with this technology do discuss the ethical concerns, are excellent at self-policing, and have strongly criticized and dismissed those who have used it unethically.
So, is the science of making a hypoallergenic cat a waste of time and resources that could have been spent on other chronic conditions?
We do not think so. Why? Because recent studies suggest a link between allergy and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, the technology is so new that figuring out the various DNA or RNA sequences is important for other conditions, and the various novel applications of CRISPR could lead to discovery of other types of therapies for cats, humans and other mammals.
For instance, we found that the most fascinating and breakthrough discovery of this study was the fact that: the Fel d 1 gene sequences lacked evolutionary conservation, which implies these genes are non-essential for cats.
Now the question is how do the researchers plan to apply their findings?
They are not planning on breeding hypoallergenic cats. They will probably produce one as proof-of-principle. Rather, they are thinking that a type of injection could potentially delete enough of the sequence in living companion cats to reduce the allergens they produce. They found editing efficiencies up to 55% using CRISPR technology.
The next question is whether it harms cats?
This is where we pause and believe we need more information before proceeding down this path. The biological function of Fel d 1 is unknown. So, the biological function could be beneficial to cats, unbeneficial or completely unnecessary.
Manipulation, blocking or reduction of the Fel d 1 protein is not a novel concept. Conventional methods such as vaccines for cats to reduce Fel d 1 production are in development, and a specific kibble has already been developed.
References
Bergman, Mary Todd. “Perspectives on Gene Editing.” Harvard Gazette, Harvard, 9 Jan. 2019, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/01/perspectives-on-gene-editing/.
Brackett, Nicole F., et al. “Evolutionary Biology and Gene Editing of Cat Allergen, Fel d 1.” The CRISPR Journal, 28 Mar. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1089/crispr.2021.0101, https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/crispr.2021.0101.
Lin, Fay. “A CRISPR KITTY? Gene Editing Breathes New Life into the Hypoallergenic Cat.” GEN, 28 Mar. 2022, https://www.genengnews.com/topics/genome-editing/a-crispr-kitty-gene-editing-breathes-new-life-into-the-hypoallergenic-cat/.
Satyaraj, Ebenezer, and H James Wedner. “A Novel Approach to the Reduction of Cat Allergen Fel D1 through Inclusion of an Egg Product Ingredient Containing Anti-Fel d1 IgY Antibodies in the Feline Diet.” European Medical Journal, EMG Health, 18 July 2019, https://www.emjreviews.com/allergy-immunology/symposium/a-novel-approach-to-the-reduction-of-cat-allergen-fel-d1-through-inclusion-of-an-egg-product-ingredient-containing-anti-fel-d1-igy-antibodies-in-the-feline-diet/.
Thoms, Franziska, et al. “Immunization of Cats to Induce Neutralizing Antibodies against Fel D 1, the Major Feline Allergen in Human Subjects.” The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 144, no. 1, 2 May 2019, pp. 193–203., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.050, https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(19)30349-5/fulltext/.