MDCK Cells with Enhanced Characteristics for Vaccine and Virus Production

This technology relates to compositions and methods for improving the growth characteristics of cells engineered to produce live viruses such as the Influenza virus. Featured is a method that uses the gene candidate, siat7e, or its expressed or inhibited products in Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. The gene expression modulates anchorage-dependence of the cell line thereby allowing scale-up on bioreactor platforms without the use of microcarrier beads and reducing production costs. More specifically, this technology claims use of the methods embodied in the patent application for production of the Influenza viruses (human, avian and canine).

Potential Commercial Applications:		Competitive Advantages:
This technology may be used to improve the production of prophylactic compounds against the seasonal flu. Influenza viruses are traditionally isolated and propagated in chicken embryonated eggs. Egg-derived viruses are the source of Influenza vaccine preparation. Issues associated with this current Influenza virus production strategy are prolonged planning of egg supplies and cultivation periods, variants in antigenic properties of egg-derived viruses, sterility and hypersensitivity to egg compounds in a fractional population of potential vaccine recipients. Defined cell substrates are currently being investigated. MDCK cells have been shown to produce sufficient viral titers. However, these cells are anchorage-dependent and thus limited in scale-up even with the use of microcarrier beads. This technology provides a method for converting the MDCK cells into suspension culture and thus a promising alternative for Influenza virus production.		These MDCK cells offer the ability to improve yields and reduce the cost associated with the production of the Influenza virus through the genetic modification that provides: Altered growth characteristics. Altered adhesion characteristics. Altered rate of proliferation. Improvement in cell density growth in suspension. Improvement in hemagglutinin production.

Development Stage:
Late Stage -- Ready for Production

Inventors:

Joseph Shiloach (NIDDK)  ➽ more inventions...

Chia Chu (NIDDK)  ➽ more inventions...


Intellectual Property:
US Application No. 61/124,077
PCT Application No. PCT/US2009/002252
US Application No. 12/937,185

Collaboration Opportunity:
The Biotechnology Core laboratory will consider collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize the above invention. Please contact Dr. Joseph Shiloach at joseph.shiloach@nih.gov or 301-496-9719 for more information.


Licensing Contact:
Betty Tong, Ph.D.
Email: tongb@niddk.nih.gov
Phone: 301-451-7836

OTT Reference No: E-173-2008-0
Updated: May 4, 2018