Stable Cell Line Generation for Vaccine Production
Streamline your workflow for stable cell line generation
Cell line development is the process of establishing a clonally-derived cell population which, has been genetically engineered to express a desirable phenotype (such as producing large amounts of recombinant protein) for a stable period of time. Single cells proliferate to form colonies that can then be assessed for the desirable characteristic.
In this video, Justin Dranschak, manager for BioPharma platforms, presents our workflow for developing a stable cell line and references the systems to aid in your research.
Step 1: Stable transfection
The process of cell line development begins with the introduction of foreign DNA (encoding the recombinant protein of interest) into a host cell, a process known as transfection. Upon transfection, cells begin expressing protein for a transient period of time (usually less than a week) before completely halting production. However, a small subpopulation maintain their ability to express recombinant protein for long periods of time due to integration of the foreign DNA into their genome. They are referred to as stably transfected cells and are selected to move forward in the next step.
Step 2: Pool enrichment
Foreign DNA encoding the protein of interest often includes an additional selectable marker that can be used to separate stably transfected cells from non-transfected cells. For example, green fluorescent protein (GFP) is often added to the foreign DNA so that transfected cells exhibit fluorescence and can be differentiated from non-transfected cells that do not fluoresce. There is a strong correlation between the expression levels of the recombinant protein and the GFP marker included in the foreign DNA, allowing researchers to use GFP fluorescence intensity to identify and enrich their cell pools for high protein expression.
Step 3: Single cell isolation
The process of stable transfection, whether targeted or random, will generate a cell population with heterogenous protein expression. Therefore, single cells must be isolated and cloned in order to ensure that the cell population is genetically identical, significantly reducing the heterogeneity of expression. Single-cell isolation is the process of separating individual living cells from a solid block of tissue or cell suspension for further analysis.
Step 4: Monoclonality verification and cell growth
Single-cell cloning is an extremely critical stage of the cell line development process. It is important to verify that single cells are properly isolated from one another within a microplate, and is often documented using a cell imager. Cells are typically monitored for growth following the cloning stage to ensure that their growth properties have not changed dramatically. This includes the process of tracking the progress of a single cell into a colony of cells.
Step 5: Titer and CQA screening
This is a test that detects the amount of recombinant protein or antibodies produced from the clonally-derived cell line.
Systems to accelerate your COVID-19 research
Get up and running rapidly with proven technologies
Molecular Devices is able to support your research needs by offering technology and solutions rapidly with express processing, shipping and customized finance solutions if needed on microplate readers, biopharma and cellular imaging systems.
ImageXpress® Cellular Imaging Systems
Our ImageXpress systems offer an end-to-end solution for high-content screening and analysis. All our systems support a wide range of applications, increased throughput, and streamlined workflows.
SpectraMax® Microplate Reader and SoftMax® Pro GxP Compliance Software
Our SpectraMax® series of microplate readers measure absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence plus additional detection modes with available upgrades for western blot, cell imaging, and fast kinetics with injectors. GMP/GLP labs can meet FDA guidelines with our SoftMax Pro GxP compliance and validation solution.
SoftMax® Pro 7.1.1 GxP Software is the latest, most secure software to achieve full FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance with streamlined workflows to ensure data integrity. Every step is optimized to simplify analysis and reporting to support our microplate readers.
QPix™ Microbial Colony Picker
The QPix™ 400 Series Microbial Colony Pickers combine intelligent image analysis with precise automation for fast and efficient screening of large libraries. Capable of picking up to 3000 colonies per hour, it will streamline your workflow.
The ClonePix™ 2 Mammalian Colony Picker is a fully automated system for the selection of high-value clones used in antibody discovery and cell line development.
CloneSelect™ Single-Cell Printer™ Series
The CloneSelect™ Single-Cell Printer™ Series deposits single cells gently and with high efficiency using a patented, inkjet-like disposable, one-way dispensing cartridge.
The CloneSelect™ Imager is a high-throughput automated solution for imaging and analyzing mammalian cells.
AquaMax® Microplate Washer
Our washers provide speed and configurability options—from single-tube dispensing to washing full 96- and 384-well plates.
COVID-19 related research solutions
Accelerate your COVID-19 research
Molecular Devices is committed to supporting scientists that are researching COVID-19 cellular response and vaccine development by offering technology and solutions that you can deploy rapidly.
Workflow solutions for vaccine development
View a variety of virus-related workflows – from antigent/immunogen and antibody discovery to stable cell line development.
Applications for critical research
Learn more about how our technology can help your research of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases for vaccine development, therapeutics and diagnostics.
Company message
As COVID-19 continues to impact the globe, we want to ensure that our partners are fully informed on how Molecular Devices and Danaher are continuing to support you during this difficult period.
Resources related to COVID-19 cellular responses and vaccine development
Systems to accelerate your COVID-19 cellular response and vaccine development
We have validated and compliant laboratory solutions including microplate readers, microplate washers, biopharma and cellular imaging systems to meet your research needs.