Antiviral Activity of Extracts of Transgenic Chicory and Lettuce Plants with the Human Interferon α2b Gene

This paper studies the biological activity of protein extracts of the Cichorium intybus L. and Lactuca sativa L. transgenic plants with the human interferon α2b gene againsf vesicular stomatitis virus. Extracts from transgenic lettuce and chicory roots, which were obtained after A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation, had antiviral activity in the range 1620–5400 IU/g of weight; extracts from leaves of chicory plants transformed by A. tumefaciens, up to 9375 IU/g. The dependence of the antiviral activity of plant extracts from roots or leaves on the vector used for plant transformation is shown. The extracts of plant roots obtained by A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation had antiviral activity; at the same time, such activity was absent in the extracts from leaves.