Case Studies
The following case studies illustrate the breadth of our recombinant protein production capabilities, ranging from supplying a crude lysate for processing by a partner through highly purified material, and from gram quantitites of crude biomass through grams of highly purified protein.
In addition to these examples, our Influenza reagents are being distributed around the world as part of public health surveillance efforts [Influenza Program] and our bioscavengers and esterases are being used in research efforts towards defense medical countermeasures [Bioscavenger Program].
| Smallpox Subunit Vaccine Candidate Under a NIAID contract, we have produced four vaccinia proteins in quantities ranging from several hundred milligrams to grams, all at purities greater than 99%. In vitro and in vivo rodent protection studies conducted by our collaborator have demonstrated immunological activity indistinguishable from the proteins produced in cultured cells. These vaccinia proteins with adjuvant have been tested as a vaccine candidate mice and they fully protected against a pox challenge in studies with mice and non-human primates. The Variola proteins have been tested in mice and are scheduled for testing in non-human primates. We also have provided these proteins to the ATCC for distribution to other researchers. |
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| Candidate Screening The in vivo system is so productive that lysate prepared from a few, or a few dozen, larvae frequently contains enough material to evaluate a variant quickly and decide whether to abandon or proceed to larger scale. We have produced small quantities of inoculated insect biomass in large number for screening engineered variant proteins of potential vaccine candidates and bioscavengers. When scale-up is warranted, larvae reserved from the first step provide the required inoculums so that the next step can begin immediately. |
| Virus-Like Particles We have produced a series of virus like particles. During optimization we also developed a gentle, high volume purification protocol that results in what one experienced customer called the best morphology they had ever observed. In addition, yields were two orders of magnitude greater than the customer had been able to produce in a cell culture system. |
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| Crude Lysate for an Animal Diagnostic Working from sequence information provided by our partner, we constructed and optimized baculoviruses for the production of potential animal diagnostic reagents. Once identity was confirmed and production optimized, we entered into an agreement to supply the partner with crude lysate for their in-house preparation of reagents for an animal diagnostic kit. The success of this project has led to two more development projects with this partner. |
Growth Hormone Beginning with a protein sequence, we developed optimized baculovirus vectors for a partner for the production of a human growth hormone. Working with our molecular tools we were able to increase yield in our system ten-fold over the best yield reported for mammalian systems. The protein has been shown to be processed properly, including cleavage, folding and dimerization,and the mature protein has been shown to be biologically active in animal models. Purity is greater than 99.9% and the yield is sufficient to enable viable commercial production. |