Research progress in pork quality and resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in south China and creation of germplasm resources

<p indent="0mm">Meat quality and disease resistance are critical economic traits in pigs, with significant implications for the industry. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these traits and developing innovative germplasm resources are essential for future improvements. Intramuscular fat content has been consistently regarded as a key factor influencing pork quality. Through single-cell sequencing and functional identification of adipogenic genes, the research team successfully discovered the causes of high intramuscular fat content in Chinese indigenous pigs. By applying single-base mutation techniques, gene-edited pigs with both high lean muscle mass and elevated intramuscular fat content were generated. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has historically caused substantial losses to swine industry and remains one of the most significant infectious diseases affecting swine industry. The research team has made significant discoveries in all stages of the invasion, spread, replication, and release of the virus. Additionally, gene editing was employed to knock out 60 bases in the CD163 receptor protein that specifically mediate viral uncoating, resulting in gene-edited pigs resistant to the PRRSV while preserving the physiological function of CD163. The advancements in these economically important traits provide an important theoretical foundation and new germplasm resources for improving meat quality and breeding disease-resistant pigs. This progress is expected to significantly accelerate the development of pig breeding and farming in China.