Our project’s target is producing human lactoferrin(LTF) by using engeered E.coli.
Our project’s target is producing human lactoferrin(LTF) by using
engeered E.coli. WHO estimates that 40% of children 6–59 months of age,
37% of pregnant women, and 30% of women 15–49 years of age worldwide are
anaemic. LTF, served as important iron supplement, is vital for the iron
intake for infants. Besides, since it is coded by human genes, LTF can be
green, healthy, additive for iron sources.
However, the major LTF product prevailed in recent market is either from
recombinated rice or from cow’s milk. Both of them is expansive for
millions of infants and anaemic patients. We try to provide cheap access
to LTF products through E.coli production. As we know, bacteria production
lowers the price of many goods, such as nata de coco or Tac enzymes.
About the ethic problem, the biggest one we face is that using bacterial
product for infants to use. Scientifically, it’s quiet ok if the product
is filtered to ensure that it’s sterile. It may be uncomfortable for some
people to intake bacterial products, but after purification and
concentration, the products is really the same, especially after
digestion. Besides, after consulting expertise in the field of medic, the
future of this program is promising. So that the ethic problem is
soluable.
About the problem of safety, the protein purification with 6 histone head
is quiet mature now, so that the concentration of protein would be over
95% in this project in the future. As the researchers obey the rules of
lab strictfully, the security of the product can be ensured. Furthermore,
even possible leakage happen, in the future, the CRISPR/Cas system of
engineered bacteria will be silenced, so it can’t survive in the
environment outside lab surrounded with bacteriaphage. Consequently, the
safety is secured.
We believe that our projec consistents with the concept of sustainable
development. The traditional method waste vital recouses such as
elctricity, water, fertilizer, and forage. However, due to the expotential
growth rate of bacteria, the produce cycle can be reduced. Besides, the
only resources bacteria need is medium and constant temperature, which
utilize much less resouces than traditional methods do.