Patent ID: 7794703

Claim:
A method for producing protein and delivering the protein in the bloodstream of a mammal comprising the steps of: (a) inserting into a viral vector a globin promoter and a gene encoding a protein which is non-native to red blood cells, wherein said promoter and said gene are operably linked; and wherein said protein is a member selected from the group consisting of an antibody, enzyme, cofactor, interferon, peptide, and hormone; (b) collecting an amount of progenitor cells of red blood cells from said mammal; (c) transfecting said progenitor cells of red blood cells in vitro with said vector containing said promoter and said gene; and (d) introducing the transfected progenitor cells of red blood cells back into said mammal, wherein the transfected progenitor cells of red blood cells produce altered red blood cells containing said protein which is non-native to red blood cells in vivo in said mammal, and wherein said protein which is non-native to red blood cells is contained only in said altered red blood cells, and thereafter said protein which is non-native to red blood cells is released into said bloodstream of said mammal through induced rupture of said altered red blood cells in said bloodstream.