Expressing recombinant human lactoferrin with antibacterial activity in <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i>

Lactoferrin is a non-hematic iron-binding 80-kDa protein that exhibits antimicrobial activity. Higher plants function as “green bioreactors” for large-scale recombinant production. In this study, we transiently expressed human lactoferrin (rhLF) in Nicotiana benthamiana at yield of approximately 40 µg g−1 fresh mass (gFM) using the Tsukuba system. Additionally, expression level rhLF increased when it was fused with KDEL, an endoplasmic reticulum retention motif. Purified plant-derived possesses antibacterial activity inhibits growth Escherichia coli. These results indicated containing can be produced N.