A project entitled “Preliminary process development for recombinant porcine interferon production” led by Ms. Benjamas Chutiwitoonchai, Research Assistant, Dr. Peera Jaru-Ampornpan, Researcher, Virology and Cell Technology Research Team, BIOTEC and Prof. Colin Robinson, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, UK was funded by International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN), the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) under the Lab Exchange Awards.
The previous University of Kent-BIOTEC GCRF project on the Establishment of Biopharmaceutical and Animal Vaccine Production Capacity in Thailand and Neighbouring South East Asian Countries yielded commercially viable results. BIOTEC developed a full-FTO recombinant yeast that produces recombinant porcine interferon (poIFN) at good yield. Cell-based assays demonstrated recombinant poIFN from this yeast exhibited broad-spectrum antiviral activity at a comparable level to expensive mammalian cell-derived porcine interferon. Preliminary trial use in farm settings by a veterinarian showed satisfactory results. To achieve another step towards commercial reality, access to Kent’s multi-parallel mini bioreactors which help to understand the optimal fermentation conditions of yeast is crucial. The lab exchange would help to overcome the barrier of limited access to such facilities in Thailand. The exchange enables the acceleration of process development for the production of recombinant porcine interferon. Moreover, the BIOTEC team plans to take this opportunity to initiate a collaboration with the Kent fungal group and collaborators at UCL focusing on the production of high-valued molecules from yeast platforms.
Laboratory Exchange Awards are intended to facilitate the transfer of technological experience between laboratories in the Network and/or allow specialized proof-of-concept pieces of work to be conducted by members. The awards cover travel, accommodation and laboratory consumables, and are awarded via competitive application to the IVVN Network Management Board.
Source: https://www.intvetvaccnet.co.uk/catalyst-funding/laboratory-exchange-awards