Transpharmers - Bioreactors for Pharmaceutical Products

Abstract

The application of transgenic technology to commercially important livestock is expected to generate major effects in agriculture and medicine. Three areas of development have been the focus of intensive investigation: (1) For improved desirable traits, such as increased growth rate, feed conversion, reduction of fat, improved quality of meat and milk. Growth hormone transgenes have been inserted into genomes of pig, sheep, and cow; (2) For improved resistance to diseases - A number of genes contributing to the immune system (such as heavy and light chains of an antibody that binds to a specific antigen) can be introduced to confer in vivo immunization to transgenic animals; (3) To raise transgenic animals for the production of pharmaceutical proteins - The concept of using farm animals as bioreactors has raised the prospect of a revolutionary role of livestock species. The list of proteins includes human lactoferrin, human collagen, α₁-antitrypsin, blood coagulation factor, anticlotting agents, and others.