Cell Line Development and Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory
Animal Cell Technology Unit
The primary research activity is centered in development and improvement of animal cell lines for the manufacturing of complex biopharmaceuticals, as recombinant proteins and recombinant virus for vaccines and gene therapy.
Head of Laboratory
Ana Sofia Coroadinha | Research InterestsGroup MembersSelected Publications(PT) Cell Line Development and Molecular Biotechnology |
Phone (+351) 214469431 short CV |  |
Research Interests
As befits a technological area, the Cell Line Development and Molecular Biotechnology is integrated in the Animal Cell Technology Unit where a number of knowledge competences have to be appropriately balanced (http://tca.itqb.unl.pt).
The principal research interests of our Laboratory focus on the establishment and improvement of animal cell lines to be used in the manufacturing of complex biopharmaceuticals, as recombinant virus to be used in vaccination or gene therapies.
The work involves the design of expression genetic cassettes, requiring the use of molecular biology tools, and the establishment of new cell lines by clone selection and screening, requiring also the use of cell culture, biochemistry, physiology and virology among other analytical techniques to characterize and study the cells and virus. Additionally, we are interested in the genetic enhancement of the cells or the virus per se, in order to improve either the product efficacy or the cell robustness (improved growth, survivability, metabolism, productivity, etc.).
In this context the laboratory is involved in several projects as the following ones which the objectives are: i) development of recombinase cassette exchange systems for fast establishment of high producer cell lines; ii) establishment of robust mammalian cell lines and improving viral vectors to be used in gene therapy (e.g. retrovirus and lentivirus) iii) development of alternative cell lines for the manufacturing of non-human adenovirus for gene therapy; iv) improvement of mammalian cell lines for vaccine production (e.g. influenza). All projects are hold in collaboration either with internal or foreign research laboratories.
Group Members
- Rute Castro, PhD, Pos-Doc
- Ana Filipa Rodrigues, PhD student
- Joana Lamego, PhD student (co-supervision Ana Luísa Simplício)
- Paulo Fernandes, PhD Student (co-supervision Paula Alves)
- Hélio Tomás, PhD Student
- Hugo Soares, PhD Student
- Miguel Guerreiro, PhD Student
- Ana Sofia Oliveira, Master Student
- Ana Isabel Almeida, Master Student
- Tanja Laske, Master Student (co-supervision Yvonne Genzel, Max Planck Institute, Germany)
- Vanessa Bandeira, Research StudentA
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Selected Publications
- Rodrigues, A.F.; Amaral, A.I.; Veríssimo, V.; Alves, P.M.; Coroadinha, A.S.* (2012) ‘Lipid biosynthetic pathways: metabolic target for improving retroviral vector titer and quality’ Biotechnol. Bioeng. 109(5):1269-79
- Rodrigues, A.F.; Guerreiro, M.; Santiago, V.; Alves, P.M.; Dalba, C.; Klatzman, D.; Carrondo, M.J.T and Coroadinha, A.S.* (2011) ‘Down-regulation of CD81 tetraspanin in human cells producing retroviral-based particles: Tailoring vector composition’ Biotechnol. Bioeng., 108(11):2623-33.
- Carrondo, M.J.T.; Merten, O.-W.; Haury; M.; Alves, P.M. and Coroadinha, A.S.* (2008) Impact of retroviral vector components Stoichiometry on packaging cell lines: effects on productivity and vector quality. Hum. Gene Therapy., 19(2):199-210
ACT Unit Website
For further information please visit the ACT webpage
Cell Line Development and Molecular Biotechnology (PT)
A principal área de trabalho do laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Linhas Celulares e Biotecnologia Molecular é o desenvolvimento de linhas celulares animais que serão utilizadas para a produção de produtos biofarmacêuticos complexos como é o caso dos vírus recombinantes que são utilizados em vacinação ou em terapia génica.
O trabalho envolve o design dos vectores de expressão genética, requerendo a utilização de metodologias de biologia molecular, e o estabelecimento de novas linhas celulares por selecção e caracterização de clones, o que requer metodologias de cultura celular, virologia e análise bioquímica, fisiológica entre outras.
Adicionalmente, estamos interessados no melhoramento genético das células per se, de modo a melhorar quer a eficácia do bioproduto ou a robustez das células (melhoramento do crescimento, viabilidade, metabolismo, produtividade celular, etc.)
