Researchers have successfully bred the first two gene-edited beagles, Alfie and Bailey, designed to be hypoallergenic. Previous attempts at creating allergy-free pets relied on cloning, which often resulted in health complications for the animals. This new approach uses CRISPR technology to disable the specific gene responsible for producing allergy-causing proteins in dog saliva and dander.
The project, led by Kindred Companion Sciences, involved editing the genetic code of dog skin cells before transferring them into a surrogate. When scientists tested the saliva and fur of the two female pups born in September 2024, they found no evidence of the protein that typically triggers allergic reactions in humans. These results were recently published in the CRISPR Journal.
To confirm the effectiveness of the edits, researchers conducted skin prick tests on people with known dog allergies. While these participants reacted to samples from poodles and goldendoodles, they showed no reaction to the samples taken from the gene-edited beagles. Because this gene edit is also found naturally in some dogs, researchers believe the modification is unlikely to cause long-term health issues for the animals.
While the success with beagles is a milestone, experts note that further study is required to ensure these results hold up across the broader human population. Dr. Jeff SoRelle, a pathologist at UT Southwestern, points out that the gene targeted is the primary, but not the sole, source of dog allergies. The team at Kindred Companion Sciences intends to expand their research to other dog breeds and service animals in the future.
For those involved in the study, the impact is personal. One researcher, who suffered from severe allergies throughout his life, now lives with one of the pups. The dogs are currently being monitored during routine veterinary visits to track their long-term health and wellbeing.