Threat of Bacteria and Gene Defects on Pharmaceutical Value of Cow Milk in Producing Human Antibodies, Proteins that Fight Pathogens (Part. 1)

Abstract

     Cows are now a potential source for pharmaceutical development by the values of their milk, which helps human prevent diseases. For that reason, scientists believe cows should be one of the top picks for genetical engineering in order to provide humans with antibodies. Although the results are promising, the process is still running slow. The reason is the attack of bacteria among cattle is still on the loose. Scientists are trying to assess the environmental impact, which is believed to be an effective solution. Besides the environmental issue, transgenic cows also have to deal with gene defects. One of the suggestions that stand out is to use the gene-transfer technology.   

Introduction

     Thanks to the advances of biotechnology, the pharmacy has been developing with more natural aspects. Hence, the pharmaceutical purpose, “animals can now be generated”, according to Xu, Zhao, Wang, Zhao, Zhang, Chu & Li (2011), “ for the production of dairy, meat, or fiber” (p. 1043). Despite that, scientists favor animals that produce eggs or milk (Potenza, 2016, par. 8). Cows, chicken, goats, general cattle are now on running experiments. This paper focus on reporting the dairy production of cow and the problems go with it such as bacteria and gene defects.

     Why cows are medically potential source? Alessandra Potenza (2016) shares that:

“The genetically altered cows are particularly valuable because they create polyclonal antibodies, antibodies that can attack bacteria, viruses, and even cancer cells in multiple areas.” (par. 13)

Cows are natural sources for medicine. The term “natural” doesn’t only mean the origin of this species but only reveals the character of the benefit they carry. Specifically, the polyclonal antibodies created from transgenic cows are “the natural way our bodies fight diseases” (Potenza, 2016, par. 13). The rich source of proteins such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, or alpha-lactalbumin is the reason cow milk is valuable ( Xu et al., 2011, p. 1044). The amounts of lysozyme and lactoferrin and alpha-lactalbumin are especially approximate to the protein value in human milk.

     With such beneficial contribution, still, many cows are not healthy enough for the success of genetical engineering. TestBiotech organization (2017) reports that in 2014, “hundreds of attempts to genetically engineer a cow that would produce hypo-allergenic milk” (par. 2). The reasons include gene deficits and diseases. Since then, scientists have been researching solutions to improve gene system and prevent diseases for transgenic cows. 

Materials and Methods

     Diseases, the attack of bacteria, is the main factor that makes cow milk unsafe for human use. In order to find a prevention for diseases in genetically engineered cows, I find and study the research that contains the keywords transgenic cows, diseases, prevent, bacteria. To deal with mastitis-causing bacteria, Rosalie Marion Bliss (2005) suggests assessing lysostaphin, an antimicrobial protein. This experiment results in success with positive numbers. Another solution for preventing common diseases in transgenic cows reported by Tom Whipple Science Editor (2017) is that “scientists used the tool to insert a tuberculosis resistance gene” (par. 3). This article states that this solution brings a positive result though there aren’t specific numbers for it.

     Gene deficits are also the reasons the milk of transgenic cow can’t reach the basic standards to be released into the market. This means a transgenic cow can’t have a healthy life because of its gene system. The research of Xu et al. (2011) interprets that genetically engineered animals such as cows lack the conditions to survive in the environment, which impacts their transgenic products. These scientists (2011) suggest that “the potential environmental impact of transgenic cows should be assessed before they are introduced into the environment” (p. 1044). There are specific numbers which are easy for me to make comparisons between the protein amount in human milk, bovine milk, and cow milk, which reveals the success of the experiment.
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References:

Bliss, R. (2005). Transgenic Cows Resist Mastitis-Causing Bacteria. USDA/Agricultural Research Service. Retrieved from https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2005/transgenic-cows-resist-mastitis-causing-bacteria/.

Magnus, P. (2008). Transgenic Milk. Veterinary World, 1(10), pp. 319-320. Retrieved from http://www.veterinaryworld.org/2008/October/Transgenic%20milk.pdf.

Potenza, A. (2016). Are These Genetically Engineered Cows The Future of Medicine? The Verge. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/3/13819482/genetically-engineered-animals-drugs-sab-cows-pharming-future.

TestBiotech. (2017). Genetically Engineered Cows. TestBiotech. Retrieved from https://www.testbiotech.org/en/limits-to-biotech/cow/basic_paper.

Tom Whipple Science Editor. (2017). Genetically Engineered Cows Are Resistant to Tuberculosis. Times [London, England], p. 12. Retrieved from GALE.

Tractor Supply Company. (n.d). Livestock Antibiotics and Vaccines. Tractor Supply Company. Retrieved from https://www.tractorsupply.com/know-how_pets-livestock_cattle_livestock-antibiotics-and-vaccines.

Xu, J., Zhao, J., Wang, J., Zhao, Y., Zhang, L., Chu, M., & Li, N. (2011). Molecular-based Environmental Risk Assessment of Three Varieties of Genetically Engineered Cows. Transgenic Research, 20(5), pp. 1043-1054. Retrieved from ProQuest. doi: 10.1007/s11248-010-9477-3.

   

     Eurus Thach.