Chromatographic removal combined with heat, acid and chaotropic inactivation of four model viruses.

The virus removal of protein A affinity chromatography, inactivation capacity, acid pH and a combination of high temperature with a chaotropic agent was determined in this work. The model viruses studied were sendaivirus, human immunodeficency virus (HIV-IIIb), human poliovirus type-II, human herpesvirus I and canine parvovirus. The protein A affinity chromatography showed a maximum reduction factor of 8 logs in the case of viruses larger than 120 nm size, while for small viruses (18-30 nm) the maximum reduction factor was about 5 logs.

[A chromatographic analysis of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from an outbreak in HIV patients in Cuba].

A group of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from an outbreak in HIV-infected patients was studied by chromatographic techniques. A group of strains of M. Tuberculosis from symptomatic respiratory patients (SR+ 14) and patterns strains from the laboratory collection were used as a reference aimed at making a qualitative comparison of the chromatographic patterns described by the strains isolated from patients.

Adsorption-desorption of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (r-HBsAg) from P. pastoris on a diatomaceous earth matrix: Optimization of parameters for purification.

Recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (r-HBsAg) produced in yeast is adsorbed on a diatomaceous earth matrix for purification purposes. A pH dependence in the adsorption-elution behavior was found. The capacity of celite (Hyflo Super Cei) for adsorbing r-HBsAg increased with decreasing pH.

Biologicals production by recombinant DNA technology in Cuba.

During 1981 we started an intensive programme for the development of biotechnology in Cuba. The first project was related to the production of leucocyte interferon and the cloning an expression of these genes in prokaryotic and yeast cells. These products are currently obtained in large amounts and their physical and chemical characterization are presented.