title: Cost-effective production of a vaginal protein microbicide to prevent HIV transmission.
abstract: A series of small-molecule microbicides has been developed for vaginal delivery to prevent heterosexual HIV transmission, but results from human clinical trials have been disappointing. Protein-based microbicides, such as HIV-specific monoclonal antibodies, have been considered as an alternative approach. Despite their promising safety profile and efficacy, the major drawback of such molecules is the economy of large-scale production in mammalian cells, the current system of choice. Here, we show that an alternative biomanufacturing platform is now available for one of the most promising anti-HIV antibodies (2G12). Our data show that the HIV-neutralization capability of the antibody is equal to or superior to that of the same antibody produced in CHO cells. We conclude that this protein production system may provide a means to achieve microbicide ingredient manufacture at costs that would allow product introduction and manufacture in the developing world.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Producció Vegetal i Ciència Forestal, Universitat de Lleida, Avenida Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, Lleida, 25198, Spain.
authors.forename: Koreen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramessar
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rademacher
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stadlmann
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Platis
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stiegler
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Labrou
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Altmann
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stöger
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Capell
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christou
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000191:economics* / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006020:Glycopeptides; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A