Biotech Updates

Expression of Aflatoxin-Detoxifizyme in the Parotid Gland of Transgenic Pigs

September 6, 2017

Producing aflatoxin-detoxifizyme (ADTZ) in pigs is a new approach to help control the aflatoxin (AFT) contamination of pig feed. Researchers from Linyi University and Yanbian University in China successfully developed transgenic pigs expressing ADTZ gene in their parotid glands.

The team found significant ADTZ activity in the saliva of 6 transgenic pigs. Feeding trial with AFT results showed that there were significant differences between AFT residues in the liver of transgenic pigs producing ADTZ and the control pigs.

To investigate the inheritance of the transgene, 11 G1 transgenic pigs were successfully obtained. The ADTZ activity in saliva of 11 G1 transgenic pigs was found to be significant. Feeding trials with AFT results also showed significant differences in the liver of G1 pigs and the control.

These results demonstrate that ADTZ produced in transgenic pigs could improve the effect of the AFT contamination of feed on pigs.

For more information, read the article in Transgenic Research.