US Patent 7429690 Transgenic bovines having reduced prion protein production

The invention provides cloned transgenic ungulates (e.g., bovines) in which prion protein activity is reduced by one or more genetically engineered mutations. Desirably, these transgenic bovines are also genetically modified to express xenogenous (e.g., human) antibodies. Because of their resistance to prion-related diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopy (also known as mad cow disease), these bovines are a safer source of human antibodies for pharmaceutical uses and a safer source of agricultural products.