Chickens provide protein for drug development
Research by the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute is providing hope for the cheaper production of drugs with the use of chickens.
In the study, chickens were genetically modified to develop human proteins in their eggs. These proteins could lead to the development of certain drugs.
Dr Lissa Herron, one of the lead researchers in the project, said: “The chicken system could be used to either make biosimilar versions of existing drugs (the protein version of generic drugs) or novel drugs that are made better in the chicken than in cell systems.
“As with all medicines, though, we’re unlikely to see a product from these chickens in the human clinic for 10-20 years due to clinical trials and regulations, though potentially we could get there faster for animal health.”
Chickens could become a more cost-effective way of producing drugs as they can lay 250-300 eggs per year. This is a considerable amount of protein. Dr Herron added: “The facilities (for chickens) can cost anywhere between 10 and 100 times less than a mammalian cell culture facility.” In the past goats and rabbits have also been used by scientists to produce human proteins.
The human proteins that the chickens developed in the study could be used in the future to create protein drugs. These drugs could be used to treat a large range of illnesses. Dr Herron explained: “Protein drugs are used to treat viral conditions such as hepatitis, various cancers, and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
“Some have potential in regenerative medicine or improving the immune system of animals or humans, with a potential for reducing the need for antibiotics.
“We’re particularly interested in cytokines, as these proteins can sometimes be hard to make in cells and the chickens seem to be very good at making them. These are heavily involved in the immune system and have regenerative potential as well.”
Chicken eggs are already used for the flu jab as well as for other vaccines.
The chickens were not harmed in the project and they lay their eggs with no notable negative results.
