The bovine IFN-ω1 is biologically active and secreted at high levels in the yeast Pichia pastoris

The gene coding for bIFN-omega 1 was isolated from bovine genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Recombinant bIFN-omega 1 was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris and high levels of the recombinant protein (0.4 mg ml(-1)) were secreted to the culture media. The obtained bIFN-omega 1 showed across-species antiviral activity on four mammalian cell lines of calf, pig, hamster and human origin, but this activity was absent on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. A delivery carrier was developed to permit a better release of bIFN-omega 1. When compared with a control group, an increase in 6 days in the corpus luteum lifespan was obtained in cyclic ewes following three interferon (IFN) intrauterine administrations on days 9, 10 and 11 post-estrus. In summary, these results demonstrated for the first time that biologically active recombinant bIFN-omega 1 vias highly secreted by P. pastoris showing antiviral activity in different cell lines and an antiluteolytic effect in cyclic ewes, with no detrimental effects on the animals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.