Cloning and expression of canine interferon-α genes in Escherichia coli

Abstract

We cloned five new subtypes of cDNA encoding canine interferon-α (CaIFN-α) from a canine epithelial cell line. CaIFN-αs were divided into two groups by amino acid sequences and a molecular phylogenic tree. Two subtypes of them were expressed in Escherichia coli, and IFN proteins were purified. Recombinant CaIFN-αs were highly species-specific and showed antiviral activity against Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus and canine adenovirus-1, but not against canine herpesvirus-1.