Autolysis technology
Microbial strains have been created at NTC for simplified purification of recombinant products, such as plasmid DNA and recombinant protein therapeutics. This eliminates the need for complicated chemical or physical methods of cell cracking. [Patent Ref: PCT/US05/28870; PCT/08/06553]
HyperGROtm fermentation process: Record yields for plasmid DNA production
NTC’s HyperGROtm fermentation process and media are used routinely for production of gene therapy vectors and DNA vaccines. Improvements in fed-batch fermentation resulted in plasmid DNA yields of >2.2g/L. [Patent Ref: PCT/US05/29238]
Recombinant protein production (E. coli)
NTC’s pVEX™ system is arguably the most advanced E. coli recombinant protein production suite available in the industry today, capable of protein yields routinely in the range of 2-20g/L.
Genome Mass Transfer (GMT™) Strain engineering Technology
GMT is a disruptive NTC technology, which facilitates the transfer of desirable traits freely between strains. The strategy is to directly transfer genomic DNA from a strain with a desired property into a recipient strain that expresses recombineering genes. GMT replaces older technology, such as phage P1 transduction. For example, genomic DNA becomes efficiently integrated into the recipient host genome through homologous recombination, after transfer, for example, by electroporation. In some cases, amplified DNA is transferred directly from cell lysates, dramatically simplifying the task of genome engineering. [Patent Ref: PCT/US08/06548]
DNA Vaccination technology
DNA vaccines have been improved through the introduction of NTC’s RNA elements technology (RNAe), redirecting the innate immune response through alteration of pattern recognition elements. NTC’s pDNAVACCUltra vectors are designed for: rapid deployment, multi-mode presentation, enhanced expression, enhanced production yield, and antibiotic-free selection. [Patent Ref: PCT/US06/02174; PCT/US08/06554]
Retro-Vector technology
Retro-vectors, derived from retroviruses, are among the most ubiquitous of reagents used for gene therapy research. NTC’s retro-vector technologies include: Retrotransposons (US 6,4100,220; US5,879,933); Vectors for gene transfer (US6,027,722; 6,287,863); Self-assembling genes (US 6,410,220); and Viral packaging signal without gag gene sequences (US 6,573,091).
