Recently, the Biotechnology Research Institute has received the safety certification of  producing chicken α-interferon with recombinant Baculovirus rBmNPV(ChIFN-α), which was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.

China is one of the largest chicken raising country in the world. In traditional poultry industry, viral infectious diseases played a major role in the field with characters of rapid mutation, atypia, easy breakout, high morbidity and mortality and caused huge economic losses for the industry. Problems such as drug resistance, drug residues and hysteresis due to the rapid mutation of the virus often occur when using chemical drugs and vaccines. Thus, new methods to prevent viral disease are urgently needed.

The achievement was accomplished by Pro. Zhang Zhifang and his team of microbial protein engineering. Silkworms was used as bioreactor, Silkworm nucleopolyhedrovirus was used as vector and infects its natural host, silkworm and express high level of chicken interferon-α in silkworm, the bioreactor. The expression system has advantages of high expression efficiency, post-translational modification of protein, low production cost and energy consumption, none pollution and owns tremendous economical, ecological and social benefits. The achievement owns a complete independent intellectual property right, and has great significance in  the development of poultry industry and improving the international competitiveness of the prevent and control of animal disease.