Effects of oral treatment with plant-expressed cytokines for mucosal barrier formation and maturation

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The aim of this project is to determine effects of oral treatment with plant-expressed cytokines for mucosal barrier formation and maturation. We also examined protective activity of oral cytokine treatment against pathogens. In a mouse infection model with Listeria monocytogenes, oral treatment with human interferon alfa reduced bacterial burden in spleen and liver. Plant-expressed recombinant protein exhibited similar effect. We obtained information of genes activated with oral treatment with human interferon alfa, and designed primers for the detection of corresponding genes in cattle. Activation of these genes will be used for evaluation of oral interferon treatment in domestic animals. Effect of treatment with transforming growth factor beta was evalualted in mouse infection model with protozoan parasites including Toxoplasma gondii, Babesia microti, Babesia rhodhaini, Plasmodium berghei, Trypanosoma congolense. The treatment reduced parasitemia of T.congolense, which indicates treatment with transforming growth factor beta may activate host defense activity against pathogens.