Release and click 'GO'. The livestock industries traditionally have used vaccines to protect animals against disease. Gene technology opens up new ways of fighting infections. When an animal develops an infection, or has internal parasites like worms, its immune system secretes a potent substance called gamma interferon. Gamma interferon boosts the immune system and helps the animal resist infection.
Many bacteria make protein substances to kill other microbes inside an animal's gut.
AAHL scientists plan to use these natural toxins to protect animals against harmful bacteria. The scientists use harmless bacteria, like those in yoghurt, and modify their genes to make a protein that kills harmful bacteria. Once in an animal's gut, the modified organism produces proteins that kill only the harmful bacteria. Another type of cell made by the immune system is called a B-cell.