Genetically enhanced cows resist intramammary Staphylococcus aureus infection

Mastitis, the most consequential disease in dairy cattle, costs the US dairy industry billions of dollars annually. To test the feasibility of protecting animals through genetic engineering, transgenic cows secreting lysostaphin at concentrations ranging from 0.9 to 14 micrograms/ml [corrected] in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature biotechnology 2005-04, Vol.23 (4), p.445-451
Main Authors: Wall, Robert J, Powell, Anne M, Paape, Max J, Kerr, David E, Bannerman, Douglas D, Pursel, Vernon G, Wells, Kevin D, Talbot, Neil, Hawk, Harold W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
Cattle
Dairying
Feasibility Studies
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetic engineering
Genetic Engineering - methods
Genetic technics
Immunity, Innate - genetics
Lactation
Lysostaphin - administration & dosage
Lysostaphin - analysis
Lysostaphin - metabolism
Mammary Glands, Animal - microbiology
Mastitis, Bovine - microbiology
Mastitis, Bovine - prevention & control
Methods. Procedures. Technologies
Milk - chemistry
Milk - microbiology
Recombinant Proteins - administration & dosage
Recombinant Proteins - metabolism
Staphylococcal Infections - prevention & control
Staphylococcal Infections - veterinary
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus - enzymology
Transgenic animals
Transgenic animals and transgenic plants
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Summary:Mastitis, the most consequential disease in dairy cattle, costs the US dairy industry billions of dollars annually. To test the feasibility of protecting animals through genetic engineering, transgenic cows secreting lysostaphin at concentrations ranging from 0.9 to 14 micrograms/ml [corrected] in their milk were produced. In vitro assays demonstrated the milk's ability to kill Staphylococcus aureus. Intramammary infusions of S. aureus were administered to three transgenic and ten nontransgenic cows. Increases in milk somatic cells, elevated body temperatures and induced acute phase proteins, each indicative of infection, were observed in all of the nontransgenic cows but in none of the transgenic animals. Protection against S. aureus mastitis appears to be achievable with as little as 3 micrograms/ml [corrected] of lysostaphin in milk. Our results indicate that genetic engineering can provide a viable tool for enhancing resistance to disease and improve the well-being of livestock.
ISSN:1087-0156
1546-1696
DOI:10.1038/nbt1078