Why not use Baculovirus Expression Vector System?
Among the benefits of using BEVS, its efficiency and sheer versatility confer a distinct competitive advantage to partners of PSC looking to combine the protein authenticity of higher eukaryotic systems with the efficiency of microbial systems.
Versatile protein expression
In addition to the benefits of high expression levels, unlimited molecular size of expressed protein, and efficient post-translational modifications, expressed proteins are correctly folded and biologically active. Human clinical studies have shown that proteins produced using BEVS can be administered safely to humans.
Speed of BEVS expression
Proteins can be produced in a matter of weeks rather than months. BEVS technology involves engineering a recombinant virus, rather than an entire cell line for each gene product. This difference translates into far faster product development times.
Efficiency of BEVS expression
The baculovirus genome contains a very strong promoter (the master switch that turns genes on) called the polyhedrin promoter. This is the strongest promoter known among higher organisms. The polyhedrin promoter can be used to control the expression of virtually any gene. It is far more rapid and less costly to engineer a baculovirus for protein production than any other advanced production systems based on transformed mammalian cells or transgenic animals.
Competitive Advantages
In BEVS, the virus contains the gene encoding the protein and the protein is expressed only for the duration of the infection. This type of transient expression is an advantage, particularly in relation to genetic stability of the system and in reducing the extensive testing required for continuous cell lines. For regulatory purposes, the baculovirus production process can be defined as a batch process.
