Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, As Represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food

Gala Design, Inc.

Bernhard F Benkel

Leonard Brent Selinger

Sushil Jacob John

Jan S Gavora

Marcia M Falconer

Sylvie Bilodeau-Goeseels

Thuy H Nguyen

The invention provides a nucleotide sequence of bovine epidermal growth factor (bEGF) and the deduced amino acid sequence of the encoded protein. The invention further provides the nucleotide sequence of mature bEGF and the deduced mature bEGF protein. The invention extends to homologous nucleic acids, proteins, and fragments functionally equivalent to the nucleotide sequence of the bEGF gene and bEGF protein, respectively. Bovine EGF may be expressed in microorganisms such asor, and plant hosts, such as potato. Activity of recombinant bEGF may be confirmed using a cell proliferation/DNA synthesis assay. Bovine EGF demonstrates utility in livestock and dairy productions as a supplement in farm animal feed to promote growth; to prevent or treat intestinal infections; to stimulate precocious maturation of gut cells to secrete an appropriate spectrum of digestive enzymes; and to increase nutrient absorption.

Nucleic acid and protein sequences of bovine epidermal growth factor

A method is described to transfer a gene encoding a valuable compound, such as a pharmaceutical, into the secretory cells of the mammary gland to produce a new compound into the milk or to alter the composition of the milk. In this method the packaging cell line producing the viral-derived particles is infused into the mammary gland. The packaging cells will attach and survive for a period of time within the mammary gland. While the cells are viable, they will supply a continuous source of viral-derived particles to trans-infect the maximum number of mammary epithelial cells. After a period of time in the mammary gland, both the particles and the packaging cells will be destroyed by natural mechanisms while the trans-infected mammary epithelial cells continue to express gene(s) encoding the valuable compound or gene(s) to alter the composition of the milk.

Trans-somatics with gene transfer into mammary epithelial cells

Growing community of inventors

Lethbridge, Canada

Bernhard F Benkel