Gene transfer in poultry by introduction of embryo cells in ovo

Abstract

A method of altering the phenotype of a bird comprises introducing a DNA sequence into somatic cells of a bird contained within an egg during in ovo incubation. The DNA sequence is selected to be effective to cause a change in phenotype, such as an increase in growth rate, feed efficiency, or both in the bird after hatch. A DNA sequence may further be selected to increase disease resistance or induce disease prevention by the expression of an antigen over a period of time.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of altering the phenotype of a bird, comprising introducing avian somatic tissue-specific stem cells into an egg containing a bird during in ovo incubation, said cells containing and capable of expressing at least one DNA molecule in an amount effective to cause a change in the phenotype of the bird.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of transfecting said somatic tissue-specific stem cells with said DNA molecule prior to said introducing step.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said introducing step is carried out by injecting said somatic tissue-specific stem cells into a compartment of the egg selected from the group consisting of the air cell and the yolk sac.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said bird is selected from the group consisting of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail and pheasants.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are introduced in ovo during about the last quarter of incubation.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are introduced in ovo at a stage of development in which said stem cells colonize tissue of said bird.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are hematopoietic stem cells.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are neural crest cells.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are coupled with at least one liposome in a DNA-liposome complex.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of incubating said egg to hatch.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of raising said bird to at least an age at which said change in phenotype is expressed.  
     
     
         12 . A method of altering the phenotype of a bird comprising introducing avian embryo cells into the air cell of an egg containing a bird during in ovo incubation, said embryo cells containing and capable of expressing at least one DNA molecule in an amount effective to cause a change in the phenotype of the bird.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of transfecting said embryo cells with said DNA sequence prior to said introducing step.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein said bird is selected from the group consisting of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail and pheasants.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein said avian cells are introduced in ovo during about the last quarter of incubation.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said embryo cells are introduced in ovo at a stage of development in which said stem cells colonize tissue of said bird.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said embryo cells are coupled with at least one liposome in a DNA-liposome complex.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said embryo cells are primordial germ cells.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said embryo cells are embryonic stem cells.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of incubating said egg to hatch.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the step of raising said bird to at least an age at which said change in phenotype is expressed.  
     
     
         22 . A method of altering the phenotype of a bird comprising introducing avian somatic tissue-specific stem cells to the air cell of an egg containing a bird during in ovo incubation, the avian somatic tissue-specific stem cells containing and capable of expressing at least one DNA molecule in an amount effective to cause a change in the phenotype of the bird.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising the step of transfecting said somatic tissue-specific stem cells with said DNA molecule prior to said introducing step.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein said bird is selected from the group consisting of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail and pheasants.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are introduced in ovo during about the last quarter of incubation.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said change in phenotype comprises an increase in growth rate, feed efficiency, disease resistance.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said embryo cells are introduced in ovo at a stage of development in which said stem cells colonize tissue of said bird.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are hematopoietic stem cells.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are neural crest stem cells.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said somatic tissue-specific stem cells are coupled with at least one liposome in a DNA-liposome complex.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising the step of incubating said egg to hatch.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the step of raising said bird to at least an age at which said change in phenotype is expressed.