BIOTECHNOLOGY - V. H. Gerasymenko - 2006

Part II. Special Biotechnologies

Chapter 13. BIOTECHNOLOGY OF INTERFERON PRODUCTION

13.5. APPLICATION OF EXOGENOUS INTERFERON IN VETERINARY MEDICINE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

In 1982, a method for regulating appetite and feed intake in animals using interferon was patented in the United States. For this purpose, interferon derived from bovine Blood or nasal secretions was used. To stimulate interferon production, cows were vaccinated with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Administration of bovine blood interferon to pigs was also shown to have a positive effect on their appetite.

Of great practical significance is the fact, established in 1982 by N. K. Gumerov, N. Ya. Zuyeva, and H. H. Nuriyev, that interferon is transferred across the Placenta from pregnant sows to the fetus, thereby enhancing the non-specific resistance of newborns. Notably, maternal Antibodies cannot cross the placental barrier to the fetus in this manner; they are transferred to the newborn exclusively through colostrum.

Studies have revealed the possibility of protecting calves against adenoviral and rhinoviral infections using interferon. Evidence suggests that interferon, induced by the infectious rhinotracheitis virus, protects calves for a certain period against aerogenic adenovirus infection. Resistance to rhinovirus infection developed in calves whose nasal secretions contained virus-neutralizing antibodies and interferon. The inhibitory effect of interferon on viral Replication has been well established. Despite the species Specificity of interferon, there are instances where daily intranasal or intramuscular administration of human α-interferon at a dose of 5 · 10⁷ IU to 2–3-month-old calves for 7 days successfully prevented infectious rhinotracheitis. In interferon-treated calves, the increase in antibody titers against the infectious rhinotracheitis virus and the onset of viral shedding occurred later post-infection compared to the control group. Furthermore, the capacity for interferon production has been demonstrated in Cell cultures as well as in the bodies of laboratory and farm animals under METABOLISM/18.html">The Influence of various Inducers.

The potential of recombinant DNA-produced human interferon against bovine rota- and Coronaviruses has also been proven. Upon the first signs of illness, animals were administered one gelatin capsule containing 10⁷–2 · 10⁷ IU of recombinant interferon daily during watering for 3–4 days. In cases of rotavirus infection, 88.9% of the sick calves recovered, while the remaining 11.1% showed clinical improvement. No mortality was observed among the young stock.

Polyquaternary ammonium complexes with natural double-stranded RNA serve as effective inducers in calves. While active interferonization of animals is a viable veterinary measure for stimulating host defense mechanisms, its widespread industrial application is currently hindered by the scarcity of interferons and satisfactory modulators.

The effective therapeutic efficacy of human recombinant α-interferon is further supported by experimental results in cell cultures pre-infected with rota- and coronavirus infections. It has been proven that biotechnology-derived interferon inhibits the replication of transmissible gastroenteritis virus and vesicular stomatitis virus in porcine cell cultures. The high antiviral activity of recombinant interferon in cell cultures can be considered well-established. However, to exert strong antiviral activity in the Small Intestine, interferon likely requires protection against the degradative action of digestive Enzymes.

In Ukraine, the Ladyzhyn State Enterprise "Enzyme" mastered production technologies and established the commercial manufacture of genetically engineered interferons for humans and animals. Biaferon exhibits antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory properties and is used in human medicine. Rinal is utilized for the Treatment and Prevention of viral and viral-bacterial infections in cattle (parainfluenza, paratyphoid, and intestinal infections driven by viral Antigens), fur-bearing animals (Aleutian disease), and poultry (Newcastle disease, Gumboro disease).