The technology is ideal for researchers requiring just one or a few recombinant baculoviruses, but has also been proven with automated systems to meet high-throughput needs
NextGen Sciences has signed a licence agreement with Oxford Brookes University to commercialise a technology called FlashBac, which reduces insect expression timelines by up to ten days. FlashBac was developed by researchers at the university for the production of recombinant baculoviruses, which are required for the expression of protein using insect cells.
The need for soluble and membrane proteins, high expression levels, and correct post-translational modifications has increased the use of insect expression systems.
However, the production of the baculoviruses required for their use is known to be time-consuming, labour-intensive, and technically demanding, compared with expression in bacterial hosts.
" FlashBac overcomes these issues by removing the need to separate recombinant virus from parental virus.
This reduces the technique to a one-step procedure, significantly reducing timelines while maximising protein yields," explained Mark Littlewood, business unit manager for bio-reagents at NextGen Sciences. "The technology is ideal for researchers requiring just one or a few recombinant baculoviruses, but has also been proven with automated systems to meet high-throughput needs. "Furthermore, the kits are affordable and simple to use, which presents an exciting opportunity for protein researchers".
Professor Linda King, co-inventor of FlashBac at Oxford Brookes University, commented: "We are delighted to have signed this agreement with NextGen Sciences.
"The company has an excellent track record of successfully launching novel technologies.
"With its knowledge of the protein research industry and expertise in expression systems, we are confident that NextGen Sciences is ideally positioned to commercialise FlashBac."
