Interferons are proteins produced by host cells in response to viral infections that interfere with viral replication. They were first discovered in 1957 by Isaacs and Lindenmann who found that a substance from chicken cells could interfere with viral replication. There are three main types of interferon - alpha, beta, and gamma - which are distinguished by their producing cells. Interferons work by binding to receptors on target cells and inducing genes that create an antiviral state, inhibiting viral replication. They can be produced recombinantly by synthesizing their DNA, inserting it into E. coli, which are then fermented and purified to produce large amounts of the protein pharmaceutical.

1. INTERFERONS & ITS PRODUCTION
PREPARED BY:
ASNAD KHAN
SUBMITTED TO: MADAM KALSOOM
UNIVERSITY OF SWABI
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

2. ORIGIN OF NAME
◦ Interferons are named after their ability to
"interfere" with viral replication within host
cells.
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3. DEFINITION:
Natural interferons are glycoprotiens and proteins
made and released by host cells to counteract both
micro-organisms; viruses, bacteria, parasites and
tumor cells.
 DEFINITION 2:
An antiviral substance & is the first line of defence
against viral attacks.
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4. Discovery of Interferons
 In 1957 the British virologist Alick
Isaacs and the Swiss researcher Jean
Lindenmann, at the National Institute
for Medical Research in London.
 Did an experiment using chicken cell
cultures
 Found a substance that interfered with
viral replication and was therefore
named interferon.
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5. Interferon Basics
 Interferons play an important role in
the first line of defense against viral
infections
 Interferons are part of the non-specific
immune system
 Interferons are made by cells in
response to an appropriate stimulus
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6. What are
Interferons?
• Naturally occurring proteins and
glycoproteins.
• Secreted by eukaryotic cells in
response to viral infections, tumors,
and other biological inducers.
• Produce clinical benefits for disease
states such as hepatitis, various
cancers, multiple sclerosis, and many
other diseases.
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7. What are
Interferons?
 Interferons are made by cells in
response to an appropriate stimulus,
and are released into the surrounding
medium; they then bind to receptors
on target cells and induce transcription
of approximately 20-30 genes in the
target cells, and this results in an anti-
viral state in the target cells.
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8. What are
Interferons?
 Structurally, they are part of the helical
cytokine family which are
characterized by an amino acid chain
that is 145-166 amino acids long.
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9. How Does It Prevent Viral
Replication?
virus
cells
(Other stimuli:
exogenous ds RNA,
LPS, bacterial
components)
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10. How Does It Prevent Viral
Replication?
virus
interferon
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11. How Does it Prevent Viral
Replication?
virus
Inhibitory
proteins
No replication
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12. TYPES
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INTERFERONS
Interferon-α
(INF-α)
Interferon-β
(INF-β)
Interferon-γ
(INF-γ)

13. Types of interferon
According to pharmacological structure
1. Alpha (leukocyte interferon)
◦ By virus infected leukocytes
2. Beta (fibroblast interferon)
◦ By virus infected fibroblasts or
epithelial cells
3. Gamma (immune interferon)
◦ By activated T cells & NK cells
According to origin
1. Natural human interferon
2. Synthetic pegylated interferon
Type I
Type II
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14.  A DNA sequence coding for the product was synthesized
and inserted into E. coli.The recombinant product
accumulates intracellularly as inclusion bodies
 Large-scale manufacture entails an initial fermentation
step. After harvest, the E. coli cells are homogenized and
the inclusion bodies recovered via centrifugation. After
solubilization and refolding, the interferon is purified to
homogeneity by a combination of chromatographic steps.
 The final product is formulated in the presence of a
phosphate buffer and sodium chloride.
 It is resented as a 30 mg/ml solution in glass vials and
displays a shelf-life of 24 months when stored at 2–8°C`.
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15.  The complementary DNA(cDNA) was synthesized from
mRNA of a specific interferon.
 Inserted to a vector(plasmid) which is introduced into E.coli or
other cells.
 IFN can be isolated from culture medium. This is the basic
mechanism of producing recombinant IFNs.
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