Development of Equine IgG Antivenoms against Major Snake Groups in Mozambique.

Background: Snake envenoming is a significant public health problem in underdeveloped and developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 90,000-400,000 envenomations occur each year, resulting in 3,500-32,000 deaths. Envenomings are caused by snakes from the Viperidae (Bitis spp.

Transient expression of rabies virus G-glycoprotein using BHK-21 cells cultured in suspension.

Objective: To assess the expression of rabies virus G-glycoprotein (RVGP) expression using Semliki Forest virus as a vector in combination with BHK-21 cells cultured in suspension.

Results: A multilevel factorial design was used to quantify effects of temperature (33-37 °C), fresh medium addition after the viral adsorption step (100-200 % with respect to the initial cell suspension volume before infection) and harvest time (8-40 h) on RVGP production. Experimental runs were performed in 24-well cell culture plates at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 16.

Use of uniform designs in combination with neural networks for viral infection process development.

This work aimed to compare the predictive capacity of empirical models, based on the uniform design utilization combined to artificial neural networks with respect to classical factorial designs in bioprocess, using as example the rabies virus replication in BHK-21 cells. The viral infection process parameters under study were temperature (34°C, 37°C), multiplicity of infection (0.04, 0.

Artificial neural network associated to UV/Vis spectroscopy for monitoring bioreactions in biopharmaceutical processes.

Currently, mammalian cells are the most utilized hosts for biopharmaceutical production. The culture media for these cell lines include commonly in their composition a pH indicator. Spectroscopic techniques are used for biopharmaceutical process monitoring, among them, UV-Vis spectroscopy has found scarce applications.

Approach toward an efficient inoculum preparation stage for suspension BHK-21 cell culture.

Mammalian cells are the most frequently used hosts for biopharmaceutical proteins manufacturing. Inoculum quality is a key element for establishing an efficient bioconversion process. The main objective in inoculation expansion process is to generate large volume of viable cells in the shortest time.

A multivariate calibration procedure for UV/VIS spectrometric monitoring of BHK-21 cell metabolism and growth.

Monitoring mammalian cell culture with UV–vis spectroscopy has not been widely explored. The aim of this work was to calibrate Partial Least Squares (PLS) models from off-line UV–vis spectral data in order to predict some nutrients and metabolites, as well as viable cell concentrations for mammalian cell bioprocess using phenol red in culture medium. The BHK-21 cell line was used as a mammalian cell model.

Influence of aeration-homogenization system in stirred tank bioreactors, dissolved oxygen concentration and pH control mode on BHK-21 cell growth and metabolism.

This work focused on determining the effect of dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) on growth and metabolism of BHK-21 cell line (host cell for recombinant proteins manufacturing and viral vaccines) cultured in two stirred tank bioreactors with different aeration-homogenization systems, as well as pH control mode. BHK-21 cell line adapted to single-cell suspension was cultured in Celligen without aeration cage (rotating gas-sparger) and Bioflo 110, at 10, 30 and 50 % air saturation (impeller for gas dispersion from sparger-ring). The pH was controlled at 7.

An alternative method for purifying and detoxifying diphtheria toxin.

Infections caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae frequently induce situations in which very small doses of antigens injected intradermally can cause strong inflammatory reactions. This bacterium secretes the diphtheria toxin (DT), a virulence factor that can be lethal to the human organism at doses below 0.1 μg/kg of body weight.