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A System for Production of Commercial Quantities of Human Lactoferrin: A Broad Spectrum Natural Antibiotic

Bio/Technology volume 13, pages 498–503 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

We previously reported the production of limited quantities of biologically active recombinant human lactoferrin in the filamentous fungus, Aspergillus oryzae. In the present study, we report a modification of this production system combined with a classical strain improvement program that has enabled production of levels of recombinant human lactoferrin in excess of 2 g/l. The protein was expressed in Aspergillus awamori as a glucoamylase fusion polypeptide which was secreted into the growth medium and processed to mature human lactoferrin by an endogenous KEX-2 peptidase. The recombinant protein retains full biological activity in terms of its ability to bind iron and human enterocyte receptors. Furthermore, the recombinant protein functions as a potent broad spectrum antimicrobial protein.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Orla M. Conneely: Corresponding author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030

    Pauline P. Ward, Grainne A. Cunningham, Xiaodong Zhou & Orla M. Conneely

  2. PANLABS, Inc., 11804 North Creek Parkway South, Bothell, WA, 98011-8805

    Christopher S. Piddington

  3. Agennix, Inc., 7505 Fannin St., Suite 510, Houston, TX, 77054

    Roger D. Wyatt

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  4. Xiaodong Zhou
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Ward, P., Piddington, C., Cunningham, G. et al. A System for Production of Commercial Quantities of Human Lactoferrin: A Broad Spectrum Natural Antibiotic. Nat Biotechnol 13, 498–503 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0595-498

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