Production of chimeric monoclonal antibodies by genetically manipulated chickens.

Genetically manipulated chickens producing chimeric monoclonal antibodies were generated by injecting retroviral vectors encoding genes for the heavy and light chains of antibodies into developing embryos. The transgene was detected in all chickens that hatched, and they stably produced the chimeric antibodies in their serum. After sexual maturation, the antibodies were also produced in eggs laid by the manipulated hens. The stable antibody production was observed both in egg white and yolk throughout the breeding period. The chimeric antibodies produced by the chickens were properly assembled and exhibited antigen-binding activities. Furthermore, we characterized the structures of the N-linked oligosaccharide chains added to the Fc-region of the recombinant antibodies produced in the serum, egg white and yolk of the chickens.