Chicken proved to be effective in bioreactors
The researchers used genetically modified hens to produce high quality proteins for research purposes. In the process, it appeared that the birds are no worse than other methods of getting to cope with the production of certain types of drugs. The results were published in the journal BMC Biotechnology.
Many of the necessary in scientific research or medicine substances be not synthesis in vitro, and with the help of certain living organisms. In particular, bacteria with a human gene are used to produce insulin and chicken egg propagated viruses, which are then used to create vaccines. Some used in the fight against tumor proteins are obtained only in cultures of mammalian cells, which is a costly and inefficient way.
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In the new work, the researchers decided to modify the chicken genome with the aim of obtaining specific proteins. These substances in large quantities then you can select from eggs, and this change had negative effects on birds that laid eggs as usual. Initially, the authors tried to obtain protein of the human immune system interferon Alfa-2a has antiviral and anti-cancer effect, as well as human and porcine version of a protein macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), which accelerates the healing of tissues.
Enough for therapeutic applications, the dose could be set aside only three eggs, when given the hens of about 300 eggs per year does the estimated cost is comparable with other used methods of synthesis of these proteins.