Glow-In-The-Dark Cats Help With AIDS Research

Scientists are making strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the latest involves … glow-in-the-dark cats.

A Mayo Clinic team has successfully engineered cats to produce a protein that helps their bodies resist the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which causes AIDS in cats. Researchers were able to do this by inserting a monkey gene into feline eggs before they were fertilized with sperm. The genetic engineering has the potential to protect the cats from being infected by FIV.

FIV and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are very similar diseases, in that they both deplete the body's own immune cells from fighting off infection. So, the finding that it's possible to insert protective genes -- though in cats -- is also a step forward for HIV research for humans, researchers said.

The team engineered a jellyfish gene into the feline eggs so that they could see if the gene engineering worked -- and it did, as evidenced by the cats' ability to glow in the dark.

The scientists also learned that this genetic protection in the cats can be passed on through generations, because the engineered cats had kittens that were also able to produce proteins that protect against virus invasion.

However, it still remains to be seen if the genetically engineered cats are actually able to resist FIV, though the science is promising, LiveScience reported.

"We haven't shown cats that are AIDS-proof," study researcher Eric Poeschla, a molecular biologist and infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, told LiveScience. "We still have to do infection studies involving whole cats. That the protection gene is expressed in the cat lymphoid organs, where AIDS virus spread and cell death mostly play out, is encouraging to us, however."

This isn't the first time a cat has been engineered to glow in the dark. In 2008, TODAY reported that Audubon Nature Institute scientists were able to engineer an orange tabby cat to glow fluorescent green in the darkness. The purpose of that experiment was to see if they could successfully perform gene implantation. Cats and humans have a similar genetic makeup, TODAY reported.

WATCH:

Comments

[iconico62]

08:43 PM on 09/15/2011

The scientists may be on to something really useful for humans: a glow in the dark gene-altering pill taken in tablet form for all politicians, bankers, corporations, lawyers. This pill will make their noses glow neon purple, no matter what their skin tone, everytime they lie to us, hookwink us or steal from us. The glow would not take effect if they are among themselves and does not involve the public good. In that scenario a neon purple nose would be the norm.

[twenty2727seven]

11:06 AM on 09/15/2011

So where can I sign up for some gene implanting? I personally would like to be the first bio-luminescent man.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

03:25 PM on 09/14/2011

How about just end animal testing?

[norepublicanleftbehind]

03:19 PM on 09/14/2011

Just seems mean.

[Brad Reason]

01:23 PM on 09/14/2011

If anyone would like to help throw a benefit party, please let me know. I will DJ, you bring the glow in the dark cats, and lets rave the night away and raise some money for this cause. ( http://manhattancats.com )

[rMatey]

10:18 AM on 09/14/2011

The glow in the dark kittie - the mice think this is an excellent idea.

[onionboy]

02:18 PM on 09/13/2011

Given the headline, I thought that some HIV research lab somewhere just didn't have proper lighting, but had a horrendous problem with orphan and feral cats.

Seriously, though, bad headline. It's the fact that the cats have been altered to be immune to FIV that makes them helpful...not the glowing the in the dark. The flourescing aspect is just a way of ensuring that the FIV-immunity is in the cat. They don't just use the cats to find their keys to the incubator.

[Caleb Mosher]

11:41 AM on 09/13/2011

Some people are just ridiculous. Really? Cats CHOOSING to do something? Did your cat CHOOSE to come live in your home and be suffocated by four walls with the inability to follow its most basic instincts like hunting and the like?

Cats are WAY overpopulated anyways. Which is why nearly everyone agrees that they should all be spayed/neutered. Did your cat CHOOSE to be spayed/neutered? Honestly, taking away someone's genitalia I think is way harsher than injecting someone with a gene that only helps them and helps science innovation.

Would you even think twice if they were experimenting on some of the EXTREMELY overpopulated cows or chickens? No. Because cows and chickens are delicious, which is why we have so many. If anything, you'd be complaining that you can't eat it because a glowing Whopper or McChicken doesn't sound very appetizing (maybe during Halloween, but that's about it). You're only complaining because we treat cats like humans. But they're not. They're animals just like any other animal. And if we can use them in the name of science to possibly help to cure/prevent HUMAN HIV (which I realize is redundant, just saying for emphasis), then I think it's totally worth it.

I'd be the first to offer my cat if needed. And I love my cat. But it's an animal, not a human. Seriously people.

[Oneandoneandone]

02:26 PM on 09/13/2011

I'm a vegetarian. I think animal testing is sad and pathetic. I do fight for cows and chickens. Your worldview is severely skewed, thank goodness.

I don't believe that you have a cat.

I wonder how you will feel when they get around to human trials (I truly doubt people will voluntarily hand over their future children to science so they can be infected with HIV to see if the gene treatment worked).

[Caleb Mosher]

04:28 PM on 09/13/2011

Obviously I would feel different about human testing, as I clearly stated the reason I don't have a problem with this is because they are overpopulated ANIMALS and NOT HUMANS.

I DO have a cat. Her name is Zoe. She is a calico. I've had her since I was in the 7th grade which was nine years ago. My girlfriend nicknamed her Karen because she couldn't remember her name once and we still laugh about it to this day.

With only around 5% of Americans actually calling themselves vegetarians (depending on what source, some say a little less, some a little more), calling MY worldview "severely skewed" is a gross misinterpretation of reality. You don't believe in animal testing because you don't even believe in killing for food. But most people do, otherwise lots and lots and lots of restaurants and markets would be out of business. Not to mention humanity would have never made it to now where you can easily just "become" a vegetarian.

Perhaps tonight I'll have steak in your honor, thank goodness.

[OverseasVet]

02:08 AM on 09/14/2011

I'm an omnivore and I fully endorse animal testing. I've seen the effects of the devistating diseases medical science is attempting to cure. Eating soya beans and kale will not help save anyone from disease. Real hard science is mankinds only hope.

[fromthesands0]

10:52 AM on 09/14/2011

Granted, animal experimentation can be a valuable tool. However, gene experimentation is not the extent of experimentation performed on companion animals; there are also vivisections for example. The question isn't whether you'd voluntarily hand her over, but whether you'd allow someone to steal your property and potentially dissect her alive. If people knew where some source animals came from for these experiments, I'd hope they'd at least encourage better regulation of dealers. (Even though the percentage of use of Class B dealer animals has decreased, 3% is still a lot of animals considering the volume).
From "sourcing" on the wikipedia page for animal testing: "In the U.S., Class A breeders are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell animals for research purposes, while Class B dealers are licensed to buy animals from "random sources" such as auctions, pound seizure, and newspaper ads. Some Class B dealers have been accused of kidnapping pets and illegally trapping strays, a practice known as bunching.[77] It was in part out of public concern over the sale of pets to research facilities that the 1966 Laboratory Animal Welfare Act was ushered in — the Senate Committee on Commerce reported in 1966 that stolen pets had been retrieved from Veterans Administration facilities, the Mayo Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Harvard and Yale Medical Schools.[78] The USDA recovered at least a dozen stolen pets during a raid on a Class B dealer in Arkansas in 2003.[79]"

[meganini]

05:30 PM on 09/14/2011

There are other means of testing, usually better means of testing, than using animal models. It is the animal dealers/breeders that are blocking these other means as much as possible to keep themselves in business.

[mrsstuff00]

12:03 PM on 09/15/2011

If you got your information from Wikipedia, I suggest you go look at REAL statistics and learn the REAL facts. Wiki posts are written by anyone with an opinion.

[FurEliseB]

11:33 AM on 09/13/2011

My first response, "is that real?!" I have nothing against Science and what they are attempting to solve but...Producting another type of "animal" from a Jelly Fish gene is just...wrong. I can't see these felines ever being more than a "lab experiment" and given a chance to be loved in a home for 18+ years.

[OverseasVet]

02:10 AM on 09/14/2011

The green protein is just used as a marker to make sure the other helpful gene was incorporated. The green protein itself is quite harmless and has no effect on the animal other than make it harder for them to sneak up on rats at night.

[etinamax]

09:23 AM on 09/13/2011

Unfortunately, experimental animals are usually disposed of after the experiment is concluded, with maybe the exception of primates. This country is the only country that still experiments on primates. But in this case, the 'glowing cat' is an involuntary subject, did not volunteer to be experimented upon and these experimenters are evil and sick, just like Dr. Mengele. There exist various animal alternative experiments that have been formulated but probably don't generate the funds as greatly as funding for lab animals. Some will do anything for a buck!

[Chad Wheeler]

01:52 PM on 09/13/2011

People who come up with treatments for cancer and diabetes and heart disease are "just like Dr. Mengele" in your world?

[Oneandoneandone]

02:29 PM on 09/13/2011

Mengele was a very bad man with very good intentions.

[Oneandoneandone]

02:28 PM on 09/13/2011

Considering that they are going to do infection studies, you know, infect the cats with HIV, it may actually be more humane for them to euthanize the cats. :(

I hate animal testing. This is despicable.

[chobiyasha]

10:45 AM on 09/15/2011

Actually they are going to infect them with FIV, which acts similar to HIV. However, FIV is not a death sentence. I have two FIV+ cats that have been happy, healthy, loving and playful for years since their diagnosis. There is no reason to euthanize these cats after experimentation simply because they have FIV. Cats don't die of FIV, they die of other diseases complicated by FIV. If you have a cat that is FIV+ all you have to do is be on top of any health issues and they can live a long healthy life. Please do not think that any cat with FIV should be automatically euthanized, and if you have a vet who suggests this when the cat is still otherwise healthy please find another vet.

[cnsrvativ]

08:50 AM on 09/13/2011

Sick.

[livin1860s]

08:14 AM on 09/13/2011

Ok I read all these post and it seems no one actually read the story, They used a cell from a jellyfish and combined it with an egg BEFORE it was even fertilized to produce the glow in the dark kitties. That poor tortured CELL and EGG are now living creatures that are being cared for better than most humans live. Get grip people. Have you seen an aids patient .....now that is torture!

[White Raven]

10:04 AM on 09/13/2011

You're addressing people who don't think that far ahead. They see cute animal and have a knee-jerk response. Too many of them extol the virtues of Science up until they see it in action. Here it is in action.

I personally have no problem with it.

[Chad Wheeler]

01:55 PM on 09/13/2011

Or having fanatical opinions against any kind of animal research while reaping its benefits and denying any medical advancements have ever been made via animal testing.

[karing konkern]

01:36 PM on 09/13/2011

I agree with you they should really read the whole thing in depth. B 4 making a post I know people who have HIV/AIDS it is real hard to watch what it does to them and know that their is little you can do 2 HELP them. Sometimes just being their as support is not enough it is real hard to C them in PAIN all the time.

[A Jod]

07:39 AM on 09/13/2011

Cats and humans have a similar genetic makeup!!!?!..Ummmm..

[cable1977]

02:45 PM on 09/13/2011

Humans share approximately 90% of their genes with cats.

[mcinnisja]

08:53 AM on 09/14/2011

"Ummmm.."? Is that supposed to mean something?

[synergie]

12:05 AM on 09/15/2011

A lack of an understanding of genetics?

[White Raven]

06:58 AM on 09/13/2011

Okay I admit it. I want a glow in the dark kitten now. :(

[A Jod]

07:36 AM on 09/13/2011

Agreed!!!

[cable1977]

02:40 PM on 09/13/2011

They don't technically glow in the dark. The GFP protein requires UV excitation in order to fluoresce. A black light would do the trick.

[White Raven]

08:24 PM on 09/13/2011

Aw why'd you have to ruin it for me?

[fourstrongwinds4]

06:14 AM on 09/13/2011

We are getting just like the Japanize... just because you have the ability to do something (make glowy cats!) doesn't mean you should. Now what will become of this poor animal? These so called scientists create abonimations all in the good name of science. Oh we did it for this reason or that reason. What they are actually doing is creating Frankensteins because they get a good deal of media attention. God knows what they are exposing this poor animal too because of this. Or what they are exposing us too...

[synergie]

12:06 AM on 09/15/2011

Could you please read the article first before you go off on silly silly rants?