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

Sylvie Bilodeau-Goeseels

Leonard Brent Selinger

Bernhard F Benkel

Sushil Jacob John

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.

Growing community of inventors

Lethbridge, Canada

Sylvie Bilodeau-Goeseels