INSECT LARVAE: A NEW PLATFORM TO PRODUCE COMMERCIAL RECOMBINANT PROTEINS

ALEXANDRA M. TARGOVNIK; MARIANA B. ARREGUI; LAUTARO BRACCO; NICOLÁS URTASUN; MARÍA F. BAIELLI; MARÍA MERCEDES SEGURA; MARÍA A. SIMONELLA; MARIELA A. FOGAR; FEDERICO J. WOLMAN; OSVALDO CASCONE; MARÍA V. MIRANDA

CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD

Lugar: Oak Park; Año: 2016 vol. 17 p. 431 - 438

1389-2010

In Biotechnology, the expression of recombinant proteins is a constantly growing field anddifferent hosts are used for this purpose. Some valuable proteins cannot be produced using traditionalsystems. Insects from the order Lepidoptera infected with recombinant baculovirus have appeared as agood choice to express high levels of proteins, especially those with post-translational modifications.Lepidopteran insects, which are extensively distributed in the world, can be used as small protein factories, the new biofactories.Species like Bombyx mori (silkworm) have been analyzed in Asian countries to produce a great number of recombinantproteins for use in basic and applied science and industry. Many proteins expressed in this larva have beencommercialized. Several recombinant proteins produced in silkworms have already been commercialized. On the otherhand, species like Spodoptera frugiperda, Heliothis virescens, Rachiplusia nu, Helicoverpa zea and Trichoplusia ni arewidely distributed in both the occidental world and Europe. The expression of recombinant proteins in larvae has the advantageof its low cost in comparison with insect cell cultures. A wide variety of recombinant proteins, including enzymes,hormones and vaccines, have been efficiently expressed with intact biological activity. The expression of pharmaceuticallyproteins, using insect larvae or cocoons, has become very attractive. This review describes the use of insect larvaeas an alternative to produce commercial recombinant proteins.