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Coplan L, Zhang Z, Ragone N, Reeves J, Rodriguez A, Shevade A, Bak H, Tustian AD. High-yield recombinant adeno-associated viral vector production by multivariate optimization of bioprocess and transfection conditions. Biotechnol Prog 2024:e3445. [PMID: 38450973 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAVs) are one of the most used vehicles for gene therapy, with five rAAV therapeutics commercially approved by the FDA. To improve product yield, we optimized the suspension production process of rAAV8 vectors carrying a proprietary transgene using a commercially available transfection reagent, FectoVIR-AAV. Using a miniaturized automated 250 mL scale bioreactor system, we generated models of vector genome (vg) titer, capsid (cp) titer, and Vg:Cp percentage from two multivariate design of experiment studies, one centered around bioreactor operating parameters, and another based on the transfection conditions. Using the optimized process returned from these models, the vector genome titer from the bioreactor was improved to beyond 1 × 1012 vg/mL. Five critical parameters were identified that had large effects on the pre-purification vector quantity-the transfection pH, production pH, complexation time, viable cell density at transfection, and transfection reagent to DNA ratio. The optimized process was further assessed for its performance extending to six AAV serotypes, namely AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV6, AAV8, and AAV9 carrying a transgene encoding for green fluorescent protein (GFP). Five of the six serotypes returned higher vector genome titers than the control condition. These data suggest that the choice of transfection reagent is a major factor in improving vector yield. The multivariate design of experiment approach is a powerful way to optimize production processes, and the optimized process from one AAV vector can to some extent be generalized to other serotypes and transgenes to accelerate development timelines of new programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Coplan
- Preclinical Manufacturing and Process Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Preclinical Manufacturing and Process Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Nicole Ragone
- Research Operations, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - John Reeves
- Preclinical Manufacturing and Process Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Audrey Rodriguez
- Preclinical Manufacturing and Process Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Aishwarya Shevade
- Preclinical Manufacturing and Process Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Hanne Bak
- Preclinical Manufacturing and Process Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Andrew D Tustian
- Preclinical Manufacturing and Process Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, New York, USA
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Wang Y, Fu Q, Park SY, Lee YS, Park SY, Lee DY, Yoon S. Decoding cellular mechanism of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and engineering host-cell factories toward intensified viral vector manufacturing. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 71:108322. [PMID: 38336188 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is one of the prominent gene delivery vehicles that has opened promising opportunities for novel gene therapeutic approaches. However, the current major viral vector production platform, triple transfection in mammalian cells, may not meet the increasing demand. Thus, it is highly required to understand production bottlenecks from the host cell perspective and engineer the cells to be more favorable and tolerant to viral vector production, thereby effectively enhancing rAAV manufacturing. In this review, we provided a comprehensive exploration of the intricate cellular process involved in rAAV production, encompassing various stages such as plasmid entry to the cytoplasm, plasmid trafficking and nuclear delivery, rAAV structural/non-structural protein expression, viral capsid assembly, genome replication, genome packaging, and rAAV release/secretion. The knowledge in the fundamental biology of host cells supporting viral replication as manufacturing factories or exhibiting defending behaviors against viral production is summarized for each stage. The control strategies from the perspectives of host cell and materials (e.g., AAV plasmids) are proposed as our insights based on the characterization of molecular features and our existing knowledge of the AAV viral life cycle, rAAV and other viral vector production in the Human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdan Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, United States of America
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, United States of America
| | - So Young Park
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, United States of America
| | - Yong Suk Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, United States of America
| | - Seo-Young Park
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Yup Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongkyu Yoon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, United States of America.
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Ohba K, Mizukami H. Protocol for producing an adeno-associated virus vector by controlling capsid expression timing. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102542. [PMID: 38103199 PMCID: PMC10751547 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional adeno-associated virus (AAV) production systems generate vast numbers of empty capsids, which should be eliminated before clinical use. Here, we present a protocol for efficient AAV vector production. We describe steps for separating replicase and capsid genes from the plasmid and controlling capsid expression until sufficient AAV vector genome replication is achieved. This protocol can produce AAV vectors in various serotypes. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ohba et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Ohba
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Mizukami
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
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