Scientists have successfully used CRISPR gene-editing technology to create hypoallergenic beagles, a development that could offer a future solution for individuals with dog allergies. The technique targets the primary gene responsible for producing allergy-causing proteins in dogs, potentially allowing more people to own pets.
Matt Walker, a geneticist and co-founder of Kindred Companion Sciences, is a lifelong dog lover who has experienced severe allergies. He can now interact with Bailey, one of the two gene-edited beagles, without allergic reactions. Bailey's saliva and hair no longer contain a key protein that triggers allergies in humans.
"The feeling right now is sort of a mix of relief and awe and gratitude that it worked," Walker said. Bailey and her twin sister, Alfie, were born in September 2024. Scientists edited dog skin cells to switch off the allergy-causing gene, then transferred this edited code into eggs. A surrogate beagle carried the pregnancies to term.
Testing conducted on Walker involved pricking his skin with extracts from the beagles' saliva and dander, which did not elicit a reaction, unlike samples from a poodle and a goldendoodle. The research, published in the CRISPR Journal, marks the first successful application of this gene-editing approach in dogs.
While this breakthrough offers promise, it will take years before gene-edited hypoallergenic dogs are commercially available. Researchers must conduct long-term health monitoring of the dogs and develop methods to make the technology affordable. Experts also raise concerns about the potential impact on animal shelters and the adoption of non-engineered stray animals.
Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, noted that while the technology could enable more people to own pets, it might also discourage the adoption of shelter animals. Previous attempts to create hypoallergenic pets, often through cloning, resulted in dogs with health issues and limited genetic diversity.
Scientists working on Alfie and Bailey utilized CRISPR, a Nobel Prize-winning gene-editing technique. They deactivated the main gene responsible for the allergy-causing protein. This edited gene is present in all dogs, and Kindred Companion Sciences hopes to apply the technique to other breeds and service animals to create an allergy-free line.
Dr. Jeff SoRelle, a pathologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, suggested that further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness and broad applicability of this gene-editing technique across a wider population of allergy sufferers. He also noted that while the edited gene is a primary culprit, it is not the sole cause of dog allergies in humans.
Bailey currently lives with Matt Walker in New York, while Alfie resides in Florida with another scientist from the company. The genetic edit is rare but can occur naturally in some dogs, leading scientists to believe it is unlikely to cause negative health effects. However, ongoing veterinary monitoring of the dogs' health remains important.
Walker expressed profound gratitude for the ability to finally have a dog, having been unable to as a child due to his allergies, even with breeds considered more hypoallergenic. He described Bailey as a beloved member of the family.