Downstream Processes (downstream + process)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Purification of cell culture-derived modified vaccinia ankara virus by pseudo-affinity membrane adsorbers and hydrophobic interaction chromatography

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 2 2010
Michael W. Wolff
Abstract A purification scheme for cell culture-derived smallpox vaccines based on an orthogonal downstream process of pseudo-affinity membrane adsorbers (MA) and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) was investigated. The applied pseudo-affinity chromatography, based on reinforced sulfated cellulose and heparin-MA, was optimized in terms of dynamic binding capacities, virus yield and process productivity. HIC was introduced as a subsequent method to further reduce the DNA content. Therefore, two screens were undertaken. First, several HIC ligands were screened for different adsorption behavior between virus particles and DNA. Second, elution from pseudo-affinity MA and adsorption of virus particles onto the hydrophobic interaction matrix was explored by a series of buffers using different ammonium sulfate concentrations. Eventually, variations between different cultivation batches and buffer conditions were investigated. The most promising combination, a sulfated cellulose membrane adsorber with subsequent phenyl HIC resulted in overall virus particle recoveries ranging from 76% to 55% depending on the product batch and applied conditions. On average, 61% of the recovered virus particles were infective within all tested purification schemes and conditions. Final DNA content varied from 0.01% to 2.5% of the starting material and the level of contaminating protein was below 0.1%. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 312,320. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Ultra scale-down studies of the effect of shear on cell quality; Processing of a human cell line for cancer vaccine therapy

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2009
Ryan McCoy
Abstract Whole cell therapy is showing potential in the clinic for the treatment of many chronic diseases. The translation of laboratory-scale methods for cell harvesting and formulation to commercial-scale manufacturing offers major bioprocessing challenges. This is especially the case when the cell properties determine the final product effectiveness. This study is focused on developing an ultra scale-down method for assessing the impact of the hydrodynamic environment on human cells that constitute the therapeutic product. Small volumes of a prostate cancer cell line, currently being developed in late phase II clinical trials as an allogeneic whole cell vaccine therapy for prostate cancer, were exposed to hydrodynamic shear rates similar to those present in downstream process, formulation and vial filling operations. A small scale rotating disc shear device (20 mL) was used over a range of disc speeds to expose cells to maximum shear rates ranging from 90 × 103 to 175 × 103 s -1 (equivalent maximum power dissipation rates of 14 × 103 to 52 × 103 W kg -1). These cells were subsequently analyzed for critical cell quality attributes such as the retention of membrane integrity and cell surface marker profile and density. Three cell surface markers (CD9, CD147, and HLAA-C) were studied. The cell markers exhibited different levels of susceptibility to hydrodynamic shear but in all cases this was less than or equal to the loss of membrane integrity. It is evident that the marker, or combination or markers, which might provide the required immunogenic response, will be affected by hydrodynamic shear environment during bioprocessing, if the engineering environment is not controlled to within the limits tolerated by the cell components. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source]


Downstream Processing of Enzymatically Produced Geranyl Glucoside

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2001
B. Mattheus de Roode
Geraniol plays an important role in the fragrance and flavor industry. The corresponding glucoside has interesting properties as a "slow release" aroma compound. Therefore, the enzymatic production and downstream processing of geranyl glucoside were investigated. Geranyl glucoside was produced in a spray column reactor with an initial production rate of 0.58 mg U,1 h,1. A pretreated hydrophobic microfiltration membrane was used to prevent migration of the aqueous, enzyme-containing phase to the downstream process. No retention of the glucoside, which accumulated in the geraniol phase, was found. On the basis of examples from the literature, four downstream processes were tested on their viability for this system. Extraction with water and foaming were not suitable to recover geranyl glucoside from geraniol. In the first case, the glucoside selectivity for the geraniol phase was found to be high, which made extraction with water unsuccessful. In the second case it was possible to obtain a stable foam, but significant enrichment of the foam with glucoside did not occur. Adsorption on alumina and distillation under reduced pressure were applied successfully and tested in-line with the bioreactor. A maximum glucoside adsorption of 7.86 mg g,1 was achieved on alumina. After desorption and evaporation of the extractant the pure glucoside was obtained quantitatively. A pure product could not be obtained after distillation because a small amount of glucose was present in the permeate as well, which accumulated in the bottom fraction. It was shown that with this reactor system a production of 1 kg of geranyl glucoside in 2 days is possible using an initial amount of 50,000 units of enzyme. [source]


Cell-surface phytase on Pichia pastoris cell wall offers great potential as a feed supplement

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2010
Piyanun Harnpicharnchai
Abstract Cell-surface expression of phytase allows the enzyme to be expressed and anchored on the cell surface of Pichia pastoris. This avoids tedious downstream processes such as purification and separation involved with extracellular expression. In addition, yeast cells with anchored proteins can be used as a whole-cell biocatalyst with high value added. In this work, the phytase was expressed on the cell surface of P. pastoris with a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchoring system. The recombinant phytase was shown to be located at the cell surface. The cell-surface phytase exhibited high activity with an optimal temperature at 50,55 °C and two optimal pH peaks of 3 and 5.5. The surface-displayed phytase also exhibited similar pH stability and pepsin resistance to the native and secreted phytase. In vitro digestibility test showed that P. pastoris containing cell-surface phytase released phosphorus from feedstuff at a level similar to secreted phytase. Yeast cells expressing phytase also provide additional nutrients, especially biotin and niacin. Thus, P. pastoris with phytase displayed on its surface has a great potential as a whole-cell supplement to animal feed. [source]


Dunaliella biotechnology: methods and applications

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
A. Hosseini Tafreshi
Summary The microalga Dunaliella salina is the best commercial source of natural ,-carotene. Additionally, different species of Dunaliella can accumulate significant amounts of valuable fine chemicals such as carotenoids, glycerol, lipids, vitamins, minerals and proteins. They also have a large potential for biotechnological processes such as expressing of foreign proteins and treatment of wastewater. In this review, we discussed several biotechnological aspects of the mass cultivation of D. salina like strain selection, carotenoid induction, culture conditions, culture systems and downstream processes. We also discuss several traditional and new applications of the genus. [source]


Challenges and trends in bioseparations

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
Juan A Asenjo
Abstract In this paper the issues and challenges presented 15 years ago for performing efficient separation processes for recombinant proteins are revised and discussed. Competitive advantage in production was seen as not only dependent on innovations in molecular biology and other areas of basic biological sciences but also on innovation of separations and downstream processes. The trend to develop techniques that exploit fundamental physicochemical principles more efficiently was emphasized, including analysis of the physicochemical properties of proteins and its relation to efficiency in bioseparation. 15 years ago the main thrust was also focused on the development of novel techniques. Clearly the challenges faced today, where highly optimized and efficient production processes exist, are dramatically different. The use of mathematical models for optimizing chromatographic separations and simplifying validation of such operations is extremely advantageous. Their use constitutes an example of how the challenges that bioseparations are facing and will be facing within the next few years can be met. Such models should be extended to a larger number of proteins, chromatographic procedures and experimental conditions. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


The response of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance to rising [CO2]: mechanisms and environmental interactions

PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 3 2007
ELIZABETH A. AINSWORTH
ABSTRACT This review summarizes current understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the response of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance to elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]), and examines how downstream processes and environmental constraints modulate these two fundamental responses. The results from free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments were summarized via meta-analysis to quantify the mean responses of stomatal and photosynthetic parameters to elevated [CO2]. Elevation of [CO2] in FACE experiments reduced stomatal conductance by 22%, yet, this reduction was not associated with a similar change in stomatal density. Elevated [CO2] stimulated light-saturated photosynthesis (Asat) in C3 plants grown in FACE by an average of 31%. However, the magnitude of the increase in Asat varied with functional group and environment. Functional groups with ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco)-limited photosynthesis at elevated [CO2] had greater potential for increases in Asat than those where photosynthesis became ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RubP)-limited at elevated [CO2]. Both nitrogen supply and sink capacity modulated the response of photosynthesis to elevated [CO2] through their impact on the acclimation of carboxylation capacity. Increased understanding of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms by which plants respond to elevated [CO2], and the feedback of environmental factors upon them, will improve our ability to predict ecosystem responses to rising [CO2] and increase our potential to adapt crops and managed ecosystems to future atmospheric [CO2]. [source]


Scaleable purification process for gene therapy retroviral vectors

THE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 4 2007
Teresa Rodrigues
Abstract Background Retroviral vectors (RVs) constitute one of the preferred gene therapy tools against inherited and acquired diseases. Development of scaleable downstream processes allowing purification under mild conditions and yielding viral preparations with high titer, potency and purity is critical for the success of clinical trials and subsequent clinical use of this technology. Methods A purification process for murine leukaemia virus (MLV)-derived vector supernatants was developed based on membrane separation and anion-exchange chromatography (AEXc). Initial clarification of the vector stocks was performed using 0.45 µm membranes followed by concentration with 500 kDa molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) membranes; further purification was performed by AEXc using a tentacle matrix bearing DEAE functional ligands. Finally, concentration/diafiltration was performed by 500 kDa MWCO membranes. To validate final product quality the process was scaled up 16-fold. Results Optimization of microfiltration membrane pore size and ultrafiltration transmembrane pressure allowed the recovery of nearly 100% infectious particles. Further purification of the RVs by AEXc resulted in high removal of protein contaminants while maintaining high recoveries of infectious vectors (77 ± 11%). Up-scaling of the process resulted in high titer vector preparations, 3.2 × 108 infectious particles (IP)/ml (85-fold concentration), with an overall recovery reaching 26%. The process yielded vectors with transduction efficiencies higher than the starting material and more than 99% pure, relative to protein contamination. Conclusions The combination of membrane separation and AEXc processes results in a feasible and scaleable purification strategy for MLV-derived vectors, allowing the removal of inhibitory contaminants thus yielding pure vectors with increased transduction efficiencies. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Micro biochemical engineering to accelerate the design of industrial-scale downstream processes for biopharmaceutical proteins

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 3 2008
N.J. Titchener-Hooker
Abstract The article examines how a small set of easily implemented micro biochemical engineering procedures combined with regime analysis and bioprocess models can be used to predict industrial scale performance of biopharmaceutical protein downstream processing. This approach has been worked on in many of our studies of individual operations over the last 10 years and allows preliminary evaluation to be conducted much earlier in the development pathway because of lower costs. It then permits the later large scale trials to be more highly focused. This means that the risk of delays during bioprocess development and of product launch are reduced. Here we draw the outcomes of this research together and illustrate its use in a set of typical operations; cell rupture, centrifugation, filtration, precipitation, expanded bed adsorption, chromatography and for common sources, E. coli, two yeasts and mammalian cells (GS-NSO). The general approach to establishing this method for other operations is summarized and new developments outlined. The technique is placed against the background of the scale-down methods that preceded it and complementary ones that are being examined in parallel. The article concludes with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of the micro biochemical engineering approach versus other methods. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 473,487. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Downstream Processing of Enzymatically Produced Geranyl Glucoside

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2001
B. Mattheus de Roode
Geraniol plays an important role in the fragrance and flavor industry. The corresponding glucoside has interesting properties as a "slow release" aroma compound. Therefore, the enzymatic production and downstream processing of geranyl glucoside were investigated. Geranyl glucoside was produced in a spray column reactor with an initial production rate of 0.58 mg U,1 h,1. A pretreated hydrophobic microfiltration membrane was used to prevent migration of the aqueous, enzyme-containing phase to the downstream process. No retention of the glucoside, which accumulated in the geraniol phase, was found. On the basis of examples from the literature, four downstream processes were tested on their viability for this system. Extraction with water and foaming were not suitable to recover geranyl glucoside from geraniol. In the first case, the glucoside selectivity for the geraniol phase was found to be high, which made extraction with water unsuccessful. In the second case it was possible to obtain a stable foam, but significant enrichment of the foam with glucoside did not occur. Adsorption on alumina and distillation under reduced pressure were applied successfully and tested in-line with the bioreactor. A maximum glucoside adsorption of 7.86 mg g,1 was achieved on alumina. After desorption and evaporation of the extractant the pure glucoside was obtained quantitatively. A pure product could not be obtained after distillation because a small amount of glucose was present in the permeate as well, which accumulated in the bottom fraction. It was shown that with this reactor system a production of 1 kg of geranyl glucoside in 2 days is possible using an initial amount of 50,000 units of enzyme. [source]