title: Lepidopteran cells, an alternative for the production of recombinant antibodies?
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies are used with great success in many different therapeutic domains. In order to satisfy the growing demand and to lower the production cost of these molecules, many alternative systems have been explored. Among them, the baculovirus/insect cells system is a good candidate. This system is very safe, given that the baculoviruses have a highly restricted host range and they are not pathogenic to vertebrates or plants. But the major asset is the speed with which it is possible to obtain very stable recombinant viruses capable of producing fully active proteins whose glycosylation pattern can be modulated to make it similar to the human one. These features could ultimately make the difference by enabling the production of antibodies with very low costs. However, efforts are still needed, in particular to increase production rates and thus make this system commercially viable for the production of these therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPS3044 Baculovirus et Thérapie, CNRS GDR3260, ACCITH Anticorps et Ciblage Thérapeutique and LabEx MabImprove, Saint Christol Lèz Alès, France. martine.cerutti@montp.cnrs.fr
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cérutti
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016367:Baculoviridae; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000166:cytology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011994:Recombinant Proteins