INSECT LARVAE: A NEW PLATFORM TO PRODUCE COMMERCIAL RECOMBINANT PROTEINS

A. TARGOVNIK; MARIANA BERNADETT ARREGUI; LAUTARO BRACCO; NICOLÀS URTASUN; BAIELI FERNANDA; MERCEDES SEGURA, MARÍA; MARIELA FOGAR; FEDERICO WOLMAN; CASCONE O.; MIRANDA, MARÍA VICTORIA

CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD

Año: 2016 vol. 17 p. 431 - 438

1389-2010

In Biotechnology, the expression of recombinant proteins is a constantly growing field and different hosts are used for this purpose. Some valuable proteins cannot be produced using traditional systems. Insects from the order Lepidoptera infected with recombinant baculovirushave appeared as a good 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 explored in Asian countries to produce a great number of recombinant proteins for academic and industrial purposes. Several recombinant proteins produced in silkworms have already been commercialized. On the other hand, species like Spodoptera frugiperda, Heliothis virescens, Rachiplusia nu, Helicoverpa zea and Trichoplusia ni are widely distributed in both the occidental world and Europe. The expression of recombinant proteins in larvae has the advantage of 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 pharmaceutically relevant proteins, including cell/viral surface proteins and membrane proteins, using insect larvae or cocoons, has become very attractive. This review provides an overview of the production of recombinant proteins using insect larvae.