Development of an efficient process to produce influenza virus-like particles in insect cell culture platform

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza infections. However, the current production of influenza vaccines in embryonated chicken eggs has limited capacity during pandemics or high demand seasons, and is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. Consequently, there is a need to develop a robust production platform that can efficiently accelerate the production process and ultimately replace the egg production system. The aim of this research project is to use insect cell culture-based technology to rapidly produce virus-like particles (VLPs) as influenza vaccine candidates. VLPs are non-infectious particles that mimic the native structure of the virus eliciting a strong immune response in a safer manner. In our project, the production of VLPs will occur after introducing the variable dominant surface antigens in an insect cell line stably expressing the VLPs core protein. The project will deliver novel knowledge on the cell line development and inducible system in insect cells platform as well as novel bioprocessing technologies.

Faculty Supervisor:

Amine Kamen

Student:

Adeline Poulain

Partner:

Sanofi Pasteur

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: