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).