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Riguero V, Delmar J, Dippel A, McTamney P, Luo E, Martinez A, Ren K, van Dyk N, O'Connor E. A scalable and high yielding SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain production process. Protein Expr Purif 2023; 205:106241. [PMID: 36736512 PMCID: PMC9890279 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2023.106241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein is of interest for the development of vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19. Vaccines are designed to raise an immune response against the spike protein. Other therapies attempt to block the interaction of the spike protein and mammalian cells. Therefore, the spike protein itself and specific interacting regions of the spike protein are reagents required by industry to enable the advancement of medicines to combat SARS-CoV-2. Early production methods of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) were labor intensive with scalability challenges. In this work, we describe a high yielding and scalable production process for the SARS-CoV-2 RBD. Expression was performed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells followed by a two-column purification process including immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) followed by Ceramic Hydroxyapatite (CHT). The improved process showed good scalability, enabling efficient purification of 2.5 g of product from a 200 L scale bioreactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Riguero
- Purification Process Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Jared Delmar
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Andrew Dippel
- Biological Engineering, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Patrick McTamney
- Biological Engineering, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Ethan Luo
- Cell Culture and Fermentation Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Antonio Martinez
- Manufacturing Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Kuishu Ren
- Biological Engineering, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Nydia van Dyk
- Biological Engineering, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Ellen O'Connor
- Purification Process Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA. ellen.o'
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Maritz L, Woudberg NJ, Bennett AC, Soares A, Lapierre F, Devine J, Kimberg M, Bouic PJ. Validation of high-throughput, semiquantitative solid-phase SARS coronavirus-2 serology assays in serum and dried blood spot matrices. Bioanalysis 2021; 13:1183-1193. [PMID: 34114884 PMCID: PMC8202508 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2021-0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Serological assays for the detection of anti-SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies are essential to the response to the global pandemic. A ligand binding-based serological assay was validated for the semiquantitative detection of IgG, IgM, IgA and neutralizing antibodies (nAb) against SARS-CoV-2 in serum. Results: The assay demonstrated high levels of diagnostic specificity and sensitivity (85-99% for all analytes). Serum IgG, IgM, IgA and nAb correlated positively (R2 = 0.937, R2 = 0.839, R2 = 0.939 and R2 = 0.501, p < 0.001, respectively) with those measured in dried blood spot samples collected using the hemaPEN® microsampling device (Trajan Scientific and Medical, Victoria, Australia). In vitro SARS-CoV-2 pseudotype neutralization correlated positively with the solid phase nAb signals in convalescent donors (R2 = 0.458, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The assay is applicable in efficacy studies, infection monitoring and postmarketing surveillance following vaccine rollout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Maritz
- Synexa Life Sciences, 4 Kunene Circle, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441, South Africa
| | - Nicholas J Woudberg
- Synexa Life Sciences, 4 Kunene Circle, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441, South Africa
| | - Amber C Bennett
- Synexa Life Sciences, 4 Kunene Circle, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441, South Africa
| | - Andreia Soares
- Synexa Life Sciences, 4 Kunene Circle, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441, South Africa
| | - Florian Lapierre
- Trajan Scientific & Medical, 7 Argent Place, Ringwood, Victoria, 3134, Australia
| | - Justin Devine
- Synexa Life Sciences, 4 Kunene Circle, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441, South Africa
| | - Matti Kimberg
- Synexa Life Sciences, 4 Kunene Circle, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441, South Africa
| | - Patrick J Bouic
- Synexa Life Sciences, 4 Kunene Circle, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441, South Africa
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
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