Optimisation of a recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine through the cultivation and fermentation of Aspergillus Niger

• Main Author: James, Emmanuel Robin
• Other Authors: Gorgens, J. F.
• Language: en
• Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2008
• Subjects: Dissertations > Process engineering; Theses > Process engineering; Hepatitis B vaccine; Aspergillus niger; Biochemical engineering; Hepatitis B
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1698

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. === The development of non-replicating vaccines is an emerging option for safe, effective vaccines, several of which contain virus-like particles (VLPs). Many recombinant expression systems have been evaluated as hosts for VLP production for the prevention of infectious diseases. The filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger has emerged as a potential alternative expression system for cost effective VLP vaccine production. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was used as a model VLP product to benchmark A. niger’s production capacity with those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris and Hansenula polymorpha. Bioprocessing strategies were used to optimise VLP production by recombinant A. niger in batch culture. In particular, the effect of the parameters culture temperature, inoculum concentration, agitation intensity, dissolved oxygen (dO2) concentration and culture pH on biomass formation, morphology and VLP (HBsAg) production concentration was quantified. At an optimum agitation of 100 rpm and optimum dO2 concentration of 50 %, HBsAg production levels were increased 9-fold compared to yields obtained in shakeflask cultivation. Highest HBsAg production levels of 3.6 mg.ℓculture -1 and 350 μg.gDW -1 were recorded, at a biomass concentration of 10.5 gDW.ℓculture -1. These production levels compare favourable with those obtained by other production systems under similar conditions. HBsAg VLPs mostly accumulated intracellularly, although under optimum bioreactor conditions significant HBsAg accumulation in the cytoplasm and culture supernatant was also observed. The impact of these process parameters on VLP production and cell morphology was attributed to environmental stress conditions. Volumetric biomass and HBsAg production levels were maximised under conditions of lowest environmental stress, resulting in the most optimal small-pelleted morphology. These results indicate a substantial potential for further engineering of the A. niger production system for the high level of intracellular and extracellular VLP production.