Cultured moth cells are the unlikely-sounding production platform for a new technology that should aid drug discovery and help fight disease
The newly-commercialised biotechnology company Oxford Expression Technologies (OET) has been created to exploit the use of insect baculovirus protein expression technology.
Following the sequencing of the human genome, the quest is now on to turn the knowledge of our genetic make-up into research breakthroughs that could lead to new drugs and treatments for disease.
The sequencing of the human genome provide a list of the thousands of genes in the human body.
All genes produce different proteins, and it is these that offer the most exciting possibilities.
By investigating the effects of individual proteins within the body, scientists can target specific proteins for further research and potential therapeutic drug design.
To do this there needs to be technologies capable of producing the vast number of different proteins for research from the library of genes that has come from the Human Genome Project.
One of the most popular methods to make proteins is to use baculoviruses (insect-specific viruses) in insect cells in culture - the gene of interest is inserted into the virus, which infects the cultured insect cells and uses the internal mechanism of the cell to make the protein.
Because insects are very close to humans in their genetic make up, the proteins produced are almost identical to human proteins.
A baculovirus is a virus that replicates only in the cells of butterflies, moths and caterpillars.
OET's propriety Flashbac technology uses a genetically engineered form of the virus to enable the infected moth cells in culture to produce large amounts of a given protein through its natural method of replication making it a suitable vector for small and large scale protein expression systems.
The company's internationally renowned expertise and offering will allow scientists to produce proteins faster, more easily and cost-effectively using automated and high-throughput methods aiding the development of new drugs and more targeted research on understanding how proteins work in health and disease.
Oxford Expression Technologies, based in Oxford, was spun out in October 2007 by the UK Natural Environment Research Council from science carried out at Oxford Brookes University and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
One of the founders of Oxford Expression Technologies, professor Linda King of Oxford Brookes University said: "We're thrilled that OET has become a fully fledged company in its own right.
"We realised that to fly higher and achieve its full potential in the commercial market, OET needed to be recognised as a serious business enterprise".
James Bernard, co-investor and acting CEO, added: "At OET we have a fascinating blend of talent and expertise, with the commersialisation of the company, we will be in a better position to further develop our existing and pipeline products".
