title: Recombinant pharmaceuticals from microbial cells: a 2015 update.
abstract: Diabetes, growth or clotting disorders are among the spectrum of human diseases related to protein absence or malfunction. Since these pathologies cannot be yet regularly treated by gene therapy, the administration of functional proteins produced ex vivo is required. As both protein extraction from natural producers and chemical synthesis undergo inherent constraints that limit regular large-scale production, recombinant DNA technologies have rapidly become a choice for therapeutic protein production. The spectrum of organisms exploited as recombinant cell factories has expanded from the early predominating Escherichia coli to alternative bacteria, yeasts, insect cells and especially mammalian cells, which benefit from metabolic and protein processing pathways similar to those in human cells. Up to date, around 650 protein drugs have been worldwide approved, among which about 400 are obtained by recombinant technologies. Other 1300 recombinant pharmaceuticals are under development, with a clear tendency towards engineered versions with improved performance and new functionalities regarding the conventional, plain protein species. This trend is exemplified by the examination of the contemporary protein-based drugs developed for cancer treatment.
authors: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. laura.sanchezgar@e-campus.uab.cat.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. laura.sanchezgar@e-campus.uab.cat.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. laura.sanchezgar@e-campus.uab.cat.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Sanchez-Garcia
authors: Technology Transfer Office, Edifici Eureka, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Lucas.Martin@uab.cat.
authors: Lucas
authors: L
authors: Martín
authors: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau, Josep Carreras Research Institute and CIBER-BBN, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. rmangues@santpau.cat.
authors: Ramon
authors: R
authors: Mangues
authors: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Neus.Ferrer@uab.cat.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Neus.Ferrer@uab.cat.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Neus.Ferrer@uab.cat.
authors: Neus
authors: N
authors: Ferrer-Miralles
authors: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Esther.Vazquez@uab.es.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Esther.Vazquez@uab.es.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Esther.Vazquez@uab.es.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Vázquez
authors: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Antoni.Villaverde@uab.cat.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Antoni.Villaverde@uab.cat.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Antoni.Villaverde@uab.cat.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Villaverde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017277:Drug Approval; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011994:Recombinant Proteins