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Production by Escherichia coli in bioreactor of VHH type antibody fragments against Bothrops jararacussu (jararaca) toxins

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This project, in partnership with the Institute for Research in Tropical Diseases of Fiocruz – Rondônia, proposes the production of heavy chain antibody fragments from camelids, called VHH, using Escherichia coli, to be used against the toxins from the Bothrops jararacussu (jararaca) poison, by means of a bioreactor. After a camelid was infected with toxins from B. jararacussu, RNA was extracted from their lymphocytes, generating cDNA with antibody fragments, which selects the specific genetic information against BthTX-I and II toxins, from B. jararacussu poison. This fragment was inserted into E. coli. The bacterial growth kinetic studies were performed on orbital shaker and bioreactor, improving growth through oxygen transfer and limiting substrate offer and optimizing VHH expression. The biomass growth is evaluated by spectrophotometry and dry weight, and indirectly by pH and glucose (enzymatic) and acetic acid (HPLC) concentrations. The bacteria was induced with IPTG and, after cell lyses, it was purified on Ni column. Higher growth was obtained in a fed-batch 2L reactor. In this process, we reached 9.24 g/L of cells and 0.35 g/L of total protein after purification, using supplemented M9 medium.