US 6,608,238 B1Granted

Trans-somatics with gene transfer into mammary epithelial cells

AssigneeGala Design, Inc.

InventorsJan S. Gavora, Marcia M. Falconer, Thuy H. Nguyen, Bernhard F. Benkel

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Abstract

A method is described to transfer a gene encoding a valuable compound, such as a pharmaceutical, into the secretory cells of the mammary gland to produce a new compound into the milk or to alter the composition of the milk. In this method the packaging cell line producing the viral-derived particles is infused into the mammary gland. The packaging cells will attach and survive for a period of time within the mammary gland. While the cells are viable, they will supply a continuous source of viral-derived particles to trans-infect the maximum number of mammary epithelial cells. After a period of time in the mammary gland, both the particles and the packaging cells will be destroyed by natural mechanisms while the trans-infected mammary epithelial cells continue to express gene(s) encoding the valuable compound or gene(s) to alter the composition of the milk.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of producing a trans-somatic mammal, wherein said method provides the incorporation of a DNA sequence into the secretory cells of the mammary gland to alter the composition of the milk, wherein said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a retroviral vector containing a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide;
b) packaging said retroviral vector in a cell line to produce retroviral particles;
c) preparing a solution comprising the retroviral particles and cell line producing said retroviral particles;
and
d) delivering said solution into the mammary gland to allow the incorporation of the DNA into the secretory cells of the mammary gland, wherein a substance, with a density higher than the density of the solution comprising the retroviral particles and cell line producing said retroviral particles, is delivered into the mammary gland after the delivery of the solution comprising the retroviral particles and cell line producing said retroviral particles, wherein said substance displaces the solution upwards in the mammary gland.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.