Transient expression of rabies virus G-glycoprotein using BHK-21 cells cultured in suspension

Objective To assess the expression of rabies virus G-glycoprotein (RVGP) expression using Semliki Forest virus as a vector in combination with BHK-21 cells cultured in suspension. Results A multilevel factorial design was used to quantify effects of temperature (33–37 C), fresh medium addition after the viral adsorption step (100–200 % with respect to the initial cell suspension volume before infection) and harvest time (8–40 h) on RVGP production. Experimental runs were performed in 24-well cell culture plates at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 16. An additional experiment in spinner-flask was performed at MOI of 9, using the optimal conditions determined in cell culture plates. Values for temperature, fresh medium addition and harvest time of 33 C, 100 % and 16 h, respectively, ensured the optimal RVGP production in culture plates. The volumetric yield (239 ng ml-1 ) in these conditions was higher than that reported previously for adherent cell culture. In spinner-flasks, the volumetric yield was improved (559 ng ml-1 ). Conclusion These results establish the basis for designing bioprocess to produce RVGP

A Multivariate Calibration Procedure for UV/VIS Spectrometric Monitoring of BHK-21 Cell Metabolism and Growth

Monitoring mammalian cell culture with UV-vis spectroscopy has not been widely explored. The aim of this work was to calibrate Partial Least Squares (PLS) models from off-line UV-vis spectral data in order to predict some nutrients and metabolites, as well as viable cell concentrations for mammalian cell bioprocess using phenol red in culture medium. The BHK-21 cell line was used as a mammalian cell model. Spectra of samples taken from batches performed at different dissolved oxygen concentrations (10, 30, 50, and 70% air saturation), in two bioreactor configurations and with two strategies to control pH were used to calibrate and validate PLS models. Glutamine, glutamate, glucose, and lactate concentrations were suitably predicted by means of this strategy. Especially for glutamine and glucose concentrations, the prediction error averages were lower than 0.50 +/- 0.10 mM and 2.21 +/- 0.16 mM, respectively. These values are comparable with those previously reported using near infrared and Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with PLS. However, viable cell concentration models need to be improved. The present work allows for UV-vis at-line sensor development, decrease cost related to nutrients and metabolite quantifications and establishment of fed-batch feeding schemes. (c) 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:241-248, 2014Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora