To improve the secretion and expression of human interferon alpha 2b (IFN) in Lactococcus lactis, a synthetic pro-peptide, LEISSTCDA (LEISS), was fused to the N-terminus of IFN. This gave a higher secretion efficiency (12% vs. 5%) and yield (*2.8-fold) of IFN. The signal peptide, SP SlpA (SlpA, an S-layer protein of Lactobacillus brevis), was also tested to secrete IFN instead of SP Usp45 (Usp45, the main secreted protein in L. lactis). This gave increased IFN secretion (*3-fold) but lower total production. All the recombinant IFN had appropriate bioactivities in an antiviral assay.