Role of viral clearance in biotechnology
Biotechnology products (e.g. therapeutic proteins) are in large part
produced in mammalian cell bioreactor cultures. Mammalian cells are
susceptible to viral infection and propagation. Facility contaminations
by viruses have occurred over the past 25 years, albeit on a very rare
basis (Barone, Wiebe et al. 2020). Certain
viruses seem to be more problematic than others, such as the parvovirus
murine minute virus (MMV). MMV is very small (20-25 nm) and resistant to
chemical inactivation, making it a concern for the biotechnology
industry (Lubiniecki 2011,
Barone, Wiebe et al. 2020). Other
potential viruses of concern include Cache Valley Virus and Vesivirus,
which have caused repeat facility contaminations
(Lubiniecki 2011,
Barone, Wiebe et al. 2020).