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In my post 11/7/08, “Grow Your Immune System in a Pig’s Body”, I wrote about advances in growing our immune cells in mini-pigs. The problem with using animals has always been the body’s rejection of the foreign tissue.

Well, now scientists have (excuse the pun) “piggy-backed” special genes on to viruses that would render the foreign tissue invisible to the human host. In this particular study, the viruses were injected into the testicles of boars. The genetically modified sperm then pass on the changes to the offspring. Why does this matter?

By having pig tissue that can pass under the radar screen of our immune systems, transplanted pig cells won’t be rejected. Better still, patients will not need to be on immunosuppressants for life. The major concern is that there appears to be a theoretical risk that other pig viruses may inadvertently be transferred to humans.

For more information about this, read ”‘Invisible’ Transplant Organs Now In Sight” in New Scientist magazine.