The kidney used in the latest NYU transplant was procured from a pig with a single genetic edit—the removal of a gene that produces a sugar known as alpha gal. This sugar appears on the surface of pig cells and seems to be responsible for rapid rejection in humans. The pig was engineered by Revivicor, … Read more
Other than rejection of the organ, one of the most common transplant complications is infection. Doctors have to strike a balance when prescribing immunosuppressive drugs: too low a dose can lead to rejection, while too much can make a patient vulnerable to infection. Immunosuppressants are powerful drugs that can cause a range of side effects, … Read more
Organs from genetically modified pigs could help keep patients alive while they are awaiting a human donor.Credit: Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty In a milestone for the transplantation of animal organs into people, a 50-year-old clinically dead man in China has become the first person to receive a liver from a pig. With consent from … Read more