Animal Cell Biotechnology: Products from cells. Cells as product.

Theoretical and practical course
November 10th – 19th, 2010
Institut Pasteur Montevideo
Montevideo, Uruguay

In general the course is oriented to those participants who have a B.Sc. degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering and related areas who are doing their Master, PhD thesis or similar. They must have a basic knowledge of the theory and be directly involved or, in the near future, in animal cell biotechnology field.

Organizers:

• Mariela Bollati-Fogolín, PhD (Cell Biology Unit, IP Montevideo, Uruguay)
• Ricardo Bertoldo Kratje, PhD (Laboratorio de Cultivos Celulares, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina)

Teaching Team (to be confirmed):

• Dr. Paula Alves, Animal Cell Technology Laboratory-ITQB-UNL/IBET, Portugal.
• Dr. Marc Barthold, Production Manager Cellular Products-Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Germany.
• Dr. Michael Betenbaugh, Department Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering-The Johns Hopkins University, USA.
• Dr. Adolfo Castillo, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Cuba.
• Dr. Leda dos Reis Castilho, COPPE – Programa de Engenharia Química, Brazil.
• Dr. Marina Etcheverrigaray, Laboratorio de Cultivos Celulares-Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina.
• Dr. Jean-Michel Garcia, HKU-Pasteur Research Centre Ltd, China.
• Dr. Martin Gawlitzek, Late Stage Cell Culture-Process R&D-GENENTECH INC., USA.
• Dr. Francesc Gòdia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona-Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Spain.
• Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Division of Molecular Biotechnology-Gene regulation and differentiation-Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Germany.
• Dr. Hela Kallel, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia.
• Dr. Amine Kamen, Biotechnology Research Institute (NRC), Canada.
• Dr. Ricardo Kratje, Laboratorio de Cultivos Celulares-Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina.
• Dr. Angela Maria Moraes, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-Faculdade de Engenharia Química, Brazil.
• Dr. Lucia Muxi, Laboratorios Clausen S.A., Uruguay.
• Dr Pablo Oppezzo, Recombinant Protein Production Unit-Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay.
• Q.F. Alejandro Ricciardi, Biopharmaceutical Quality Control Lab, Uruguay.

How to apply

Applicants must send the following documents in .pdf to cell-tech@pasteur.edu.uy:

1. Short CV. (max. 2 pages)
2. Letter of intent with a brief description of research interests and the benefits to attend to this course.
3. Letter of support signed by the advisor.

Deadline: August 15th, 2010

Preliminary program

The course will contain three main activities, theoretical lectures, experimental activities and discussions of papers. The activities will start with three-day series of lectures, extensively covering the theoretical part of animal cell biotechnology. Finishing with the theoretical lessons there will be a round-table, on ethical, industrial, patenting, and other issues related to the use of biotechnologies. The second part of the course will be 6 days practical training. In addition, the students will read and discuss with the teachers several scientific papers related to the techniques they will be learning. The last day of the course will be devoted to present the results obtained during the practical sessions and the final evaluation of the students.

Theoretical lectures:

• Basic aspects of animal cell cultivation
• Proliferation, metabolism and cell death in animal cell cultures
• Design of culture media for animal cells
• Gene expression in animal cells
• Post-translational modifications
• Bioreactors and operation modes
• Generation of recombinant cell lines: recombinant protein and antibody production
• Cell-based vaccines
• Cell-based assays: drug discovery screening, toxicity studies, automated systems
• Stem cells for regenerative medicine or drug evaluation
• Quality control in the production of therapeutic products
• Regulatory, intellectual property and ethical aspects

Experimental activities:

1. Generation of a recombinant cell line: transfection, selection and cloning. Comparison between different transfection methods using reporter plasmids. Cloning and selection methods: limit dilution vs. cell sorting.
2. Comparison of different culture mode using a model cell line: Comparison of maximal cell density achieved, cell viability, substrates consumption and products formation. Evaluation of cell death by flow cytometry (necrosis, apoptosis).
3. Quality control tests for a human recombinant protein for clinical uses: purity, in vitro biological activity, etc.
4. Cell-based assays for drug screening and toxicity studies. Stem cell culture and characterization.

Discussion of papers:

Participants will be divided into small groups to discuss papers, case studies and propose solutions to technical problems and situations proposed by the lecturers.

More information: cell-tech@pasteur.edu.uy
This course is supported by: ICGEB, UNUBIOLAC.