INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE: “ANIMAL CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY:
PRODUCTS FROM CELLS – CELLS AS PRODUCTS”
Summary of Course Program
The course will contain three main activities, theoretical lectures, experimental activities and
discussions of papers. The activities will start with a three-day series of lectures, extensively covering
the theoretical aspects of animal cell biotechnology. The second part of the course will be a 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 (L. Castilho)
Proliferation, metabolism and cell death in animal cell cultures ( F. Godia)
Design of culture media for animal cells (M.A. Moraes)
Gene expression in animal cells (H. Hauser)
Recombinant protein production. Proteomics/Genomics (A. Castillo)
Monoclonal Antibody Production (F. Nato)
Apoptosis and Glycosylational Processing (M. Betenbaugh)
Bioreactors and operation modes (R. Kratje)
Bioprocess development for recombinant protein production in mammalian cell cultures (Gawlitzek)
Quality control in the production of therapeutic products ( M. Etcheverrigaray)
Cell-based assays: drug discovery screening, toxicity studies, automated systems ( J.M.Garcia)
HEK-293 cells a well established platform for manufacturing gene delivery vectors for cell and gene
therapy (A. Kamen)
Viral vaccines production (H. Kallel)
Stem cells for regenerative medicine (P. Alves)
Human adult cells for regenerative medicine (M. Barthold)
Challenges to place biopharmaceutical products on the market (L. Muxi)
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: maximal cell density achieved,
cell viability, substrates consumption and products formation. Measurement of cell death by
flow cytometry and microscopy.
3) Cell-based assays for biological activity, drug screening and toxicity studies.
Discussion of papers:
Students will be divided into small groups (4-5 persons/each) to discuss papers, case studies and
suggest solutions to technical problems and situations proposed by the lecturers.
Final evaluation:
Students will be evaluated in three different instances:
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Oral presentation of papers
Oral presentation and written report of the results obtained during the practical activities
Final written exam.