The Recombinant Protein Research Group was the first research group to begin its work on the production, purification, and practical use of recombinant proteins at the Pasteur Institute of Iran.

The first steps began along with the cooperation of important international centers such as the World Health Organization, which was able to provide the group with the basic facilities to achieve this goal. By the entry of PhD students, research began in various fields, including the identification of genes on different strains of leishmaniasis, interferon, and insulin, which provided useful experiences. After the outbreak of HIV in the country and due to the importance of the issue and the need to identify patients genes, the HIV sub-group was established in this group. After preparing the facilities, the identification of the genes of Iranian patients began and over 300 genes were registered in the gene bank. The results showed that in AIDS patients, the source of the virus was contaminated blood from European countries.

The determination of mutations that cause resistance in HIV-positive patients is another research field in the group which plays an important role in determining the patterns of drug use with regard to new strains and mutations in Iranian patients.

The third step in identifying patients at the earliest opportunity was to use Real time PCR technology, which was successfully performed and services were provided to the medical centers. Moreover, with this technique, mutations that cause resistance in HIV-positive patients to drugs were identified, which proved to be very effective in their treatment.

The third goal of the group was to produce HIV detection kit using the technology of recombinant proteins in the country, which its laboratory production begun at the Pasteur Institute of Iran after related studies. Three types of protein are used in this kit, which can detect the presence of HIV infection in the blood sample of individuals. From a global point of view, the production technology of this kit is unique. 3 proteins are produced and purified separately to produce this kit in the world, but a protein in the form of a fusion or compound that contains all three proteins has been used in the Pasteur Institute Kit. Therefore, it has a high sensitivity and the production cost is about one third of the foreign type and it can compete with the foreign type in this respect. In case of production and selling of the kit inside Iran, it can also be exported to other countries, and it is also possible that this kit can be donated to some poor countries in Africa for free, which brings back a good reputation and strengthens the position of Islamic Republic of Iran among these countries.