Critical parameters on Zika virus-like particles' generation

Autor(es)

Dias, Vinicius Aragao Tejo ; Octaviano, Ana Luiza Moraes ; Rabello, Julia Publio ; Barrence, Fernanda Angela Correia ; Bernardino, Thaissa Consoni ; Leme, Jaci ; Jorge, Soraia Attie Calil ; Nunez, Eutimio Gustavo Fernandez

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Virological Methods; v. 334, p. 15-pg., 2025-02-26.

Resumo

The Zika virus became a global threat in 2015 due to its association with microcephaly. Preventing its spread depends on developing vaccines, with virus-like particles (VLP) being a promising approach, especially because of their safety profile and high immunogenicity. This study focused on the production of Zika VLP using Sf9 cells and the baculovirus expression system, evaluating cell growth kinetics, nutrient consumption, and metabolite production in Sf-900TM III medium. As a methodology, this study includes bioreactor experiments, cell density and viability quantification, nutrient and metabolite analysis, Dot Blot, Western Blot, and transmission electron microscopy. Among the critical conditions tested are culture medium supplementation with 0.028 mM cholesterol/ 6 nM bovine serum albumin, multiplicity of infection (MOI= 0.2 or 2), and dissolved oxygen tension (DOT= 5 or 30 % air saturation). As a result, in the growth phase, Sf9 cells achieved rapid exponential growth, with doubling times ranging from 22.8 to 35.4 hours and standard nutrient consumption and metabolite generation profiles for this cell line. The infection phase recorded cell death rates between 8200 and 12600 cells mL-1 h-1 , with higher VLP production under low MOI (0.2) and low DOT (5 %). These conditions also reduced protein degradation and nutrient consumption. The produced VLP ranged from 32 to 73 nm in size, with smaller sizes observed under low MOI conditions. Finally, controlling the DOT at 5 % air saturation without cholesterol/ albumin supplementation increased VLP production without the need to raise the viral load, highlighting the importance of choosing the appropriate combination of critical parameters (MOI, DOT, and medium supplementation) as key factors in optimizing the upstream process. This finding impacts substantially upstream stage efficiency and economy, which could be useful for future scaling up to the commercial manufacturing scale. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 22/02713-3 - Estabelecimento de bioprocessos escalonáveis para produção de partículas semelhantes a vírus
• Beneficiário: Eutimio Gustavo Fernández Núñez
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Projeto Inicial
• Processo FAPESP: 23/16332-4 - Consumo e velocidade de transferência de O2 ao longo da produção de baculovírus recombinantes e partículas semelhantes ao vírus Zika
• Beneficiário: Ana Luiza Moraes Octaviano
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 23/17480-7 - Otimização da produção de VLP de vírus Zika em meio quimicamente definido utilizando os princípios de Quality by Design
• Beneficiário: Vinícius Aragão Tejo Dias
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado