Goats link biotech and babies
Published 28 February, 2009, 08:31
A farm near Moscow is expecting the birth of the first generation of goats with human genes that make them produce protein lactoferrin. In human milk it protects the baby until his own immune system starts to work.
Lactoferrin
is multifunctional protein produced by mammals. It can be found in milk, especially colostrums, or ‘first milk’, as well as salvia, tears and blood serum. It has strong antimicrobial activity. It also boosts protein synthesis for building new cells and regulates ferric ion concentration in blood.
Lactoferrin works similar to antibiotics in that it attaches to virus and bacteria membranes and prevents them from attacking cells. Unlike antibiotics, though, the protein does not harm the organism. It has a number of other positive effects.
The protein helps the baby in the first day of its life, as its own immune system is not yet developed. A mother’s milk contains the needed lactoferrin, and infant formulas must include the protein to protect babies’ health. It can be used in drugs and cosmetics as well.
The greatest disadvantage of lactoferrin is that there is no way to mass produce it. Russian and Belarusian genetic scientists hope they have found a solution.
Genetic engineering and drugs
It is not uncommon to use transgenic animals produce human proteins. Such proteins produced this way are: insulin, interferons, immune system modulators, and blood coagulation factors.
They have planted the human lactoferrin gene into goats. The first two transgenic males were born in 2007, and their sperm was used to inseminate one hundred females. Once the kids grow up and have children of their own, scientists will be able to sample their milk and see if it contains human lactoferrin and how much.
“This milk can be used to make medicines to fight microbes and infections. It can also be the basis for foods and dietary supplements – the possibilities are huge,” says Elena Sadchikova, deputy director of the Institute of Gene Biology.
Similar projects are being carried out in Netherlands and in China. Dutch scientists have created a transgenic cow producing the protein, but in small quantities. Chinese are experimenting with goats too, and still beating to boost efficiency.
Vladimir Kremlev for RT. Click to enlarge.
The joint Russian-Belarusian technology was successfully tested on mice so far. Mice embryos were injected with gene complex that made them produce human lactoferrin. On the average a litre of mice milk contained 20 to 30 grammes of the valuable protein as compared to five to eight grammes in human milk. Researchers say they expect goat figures to be less impressive but still better than what Mother Nature gives us.
However, some specialists are against meddling with nature.
“No one has proven that it’s safe. It’ll take years before we see the effect of these experiments on people. I'm not even talking about the ethical side of it all,” says Maria Mayorskaya, consultant for ‘Rozhana’ prenatal centre.
Those taking part in the project are keen to dispel the fears.
“Goat's milk is a completely natural product – just our milk will contain human protein. Problems arise when you can’t predict the result. Here, we know exactly what to expect,” says Igor Goldman, head of Transgenebank.
In addition to the scientific part, the project called ‘BelRosTransgen’ faced difficulties with obtaining goats themselves. Goats were chosen over more common cows, because goats produce more milk per their weight and are less dependent on the living conditions. A goat feels fine even in cold temperature while cows must be kept warm during winter times.
Is it GM milk?
“It has nothing to do with GM food. Transgenic animals produce absolutely normal human lactoferrin. Goat milk remains goat milk with the addition of the protein identical to natural lactoferrin.”
Igor Goldman,
head of the Russian part of the project
The drawback, however, was the lack of good breeds of goats in either Russia or Belarus. The animals used to create the two initial billy-goats Lak-1 and Lak-2 were imported from Switzerland, as was equipment for the farm. Scientists also cited the lack of financing as a hindering factor for the project.
The first generation of transgenic goats is expected to be born this summer. By the middle of the next year scientists will know for sure how efficient the gene complex is. If it is, the milk will be used to make human lactoferrin into a commercial product. Now one gram of the protein costs around $US 3,000. Project managers estimate the market at $US six billion a year.
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