Researchers at the University of Nottingham’s School of Biosciences have advanced vaccine development for Chagas disease by expressing and purifying a key enzyme target, TcPOP, in E. coli using the INFORS HT Techfors-S pilot bioreactor. The purified protein enabled structural and immunological characterization, showing parasite-neutralizing activity in mouse models and providing insights into the conformational dynamics of the enzyme. These findings offer a strong foundation for the development of a targeted, protein-based vaccine candidate for a globally neglected tropical disease.

In this study, researchers have optimized the purification of IL-2 no-alpha mutein using copper-catalyzed air oxidation. This process, using the INFORS HT Techfors pilot bioreactor, improves the homogeneity and biological activity of the IL-2 agonist, which shows promise in Phase I/II trials for cancer treatment.

Scaling microbial fermentation, when working with bacterial, fungal, or yeast-based systems, from laboratory scale to pilot or commercial production involves many challenges. Whether you are producing bacterial cultures for biopharmaceuticals, yeast for bioethanol production, fungal systems for enzyme manufacturing, or precision fermentation products, understanding these specific challenges and confidently overcoming them is important.

Feeding strategy is one of the most influential variables in any bioprocess. Whether you’re working with bacterial, yeast, fungal, or mammalian cell cultures, how you supply nutrients affects everything from growth rates and yields to oxygen demand and product quality. The choice between batch, fed-batch, and continuous culture depends on your organism, application, and production goals. Fortunately, modern bioreactor systems like those from INFORS HT make it easy to implement any of these strategies at lab or pilot scale.