Recombinant antibodies: Engineering and production in yeast and bacterial hosts

Abstract

After the appearance of the first FDA-approved antibody 25 years ago, antibodies have become major therapeutic agents in the treatment of many human diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases, and the use of antibodies as therapeutic/diagnostic agents is expected to increase in the future. So far, a variety of strategies have been devised for engineering of these fascinating molecules to develop superior properties and functions. Recent progress in systems biology has provided more information about the structures and cellular networks of antibodies, and, in addition, recent development of biotechnology tools, particularly in regard to high-throughput screening, has made it possible to perform more intensive engineering on these substances. Based on a sound understanding and new technologies, antibodies are now being developed as more powerful drugs. In this review, we highlight the recent, significant progress that has been made in antibody engineering, with a particular focus on Fc engineering and glycoengineering for improved functions, and cellular engineering for enhanced production of antibodies in yeast and bacterial hosts.

Microbial Expression Systems and Manufacturing from a Market and Economic Perspective

“…This thesis is further supported by successful expression of complex heterodimers, such as aglycosylated functional antibodies, in bacterial systems. For an in-depth analyis of expression of complex heterodimers in Escherichia coli we recommend the paper of Jeong et al (2011). We also question the criticism towards inclusion body formation that often is cited as a disadvantage.…”

Production of recombinant immunotherapeutics for anticancer treatment

“…In contrast, there are processes that employ simpler, more costeffective hosts and that are better suited to the production of antibody fragments, such as yeast and bacteria, but these hosts present glycosylation problems. 34 Moreover, bacteria possess simple expression systems that are frequently unable to make a recombinant human protein identical to the naturally occurring wildtype protein, and bacteria do not have refined mechanisms for performing posttranslational adjustments, which are present in more complex organisms. 35 Plant use represents another recent strategy in the production of recombinant immunotherapeutics.…”

Editorial: BTJ – looking back to look ahead

“…Biofuels continue its reign at the top of the charts, with articles on this topic routinely being the most accessed from the Journal [5][6][7] (so much so that we now have a dedicated "Article Collection" on biofuels: www.biotechnologyjournal.com >> Special Features >> Article Collection >> Biofuel), while articles on biomedical applications of biotechnology [8][9][10] also enjoy a wide readership. Technology innovations are ultimately the engine that drives biotechnology, and to reflect the latest developments, we published a special issue on micro-and nanofluidics and their applications in biotechnology [11].…”