Optimum infection conditions for recombinant protein production in insect cell (Bm5) suspension culture.

The baculovirus/insect cell expression system is an efficient and practical method for the production of many active therapeutic proteins on a large scale. The advantages of suspension cultures have been demonstrated with the study of a baculovirus/insect cell (BmNPV/Bm5) expression system for the production of recombinant chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), a model heterologous protein. Key infection parameters such as infection time and multiplicity of infection were examined systematically for the maximization of protein production. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the development of possible medium replenishment strategies, which were necessary to achieve higher volumetric protein production from the infection of high-density cell cultures without sacrificing specific protein productivity. The highest protein production was achieved with the infection of suspended cells in the mid to late exponential growth phase.