Recombinant expression of defensins in filamentous fungi

摘要

Provided is a method of recombinant expression of bactericidal arthropod defensin peptides in filamentous fungi. In particular, it has been found that the production of defensins can be improved significantly with the insertion of one or more intron sequences in a nucleic acid construct which directs expression of a defensin. The recombinant level may be improved by more than 50% compared to using a nucleic acid construct with no intron sequences. Particularly disclosed are filamentous fungal host cells, preferably an Aspergillus host cell, comprising a nucleic acid construct which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a bactericidal arthropod defensin and one or more intron sequences.