This study demonstrates for the first time the production of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) from Bacillus subtilis. A hybrid gene containing the signal sequence of the B. licheniformis serine alkaline protease gene and the cDNA encoding hGH was cloned into the pMK4 plasmid and expressed under the deg promoter in B. subtilis. The rhGH produced was secreted and confirmed to have the correct mature hGH sequence. The highest rhGH concentration of 70 mg/L was obtained at 32 hours with a yield of 9 g/kg. Fermentation characteristics differed between B. subtilis containing the hybrid gene versus the plasmid alone. This expression system could be applicable for heterologous protein production from Bac