Development of a Cost-Effective Process for the Heterologous Production of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor Binding Domain Using Pichia pastoris in Stirred-Tank Bioreactor

SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the pathogenic agent causing COVID-19 pandemic. Among proteins codified by this virus, Spike protein is one of most-external and -exposed. A fragment protein, named receptor binding domain (RBD), interacts with ACE2 receptors human cells, allowing entrance viruses. RBD has been proposed an interesting for development diagnosis tools, treatment, prevention disease. In work, a method recombinant production using Pichia pastoris cell factory in stirred-tank bioreactor (SRTB) up to 7 L developed. Using basal saline medium glycerol, methanol, compressed air four-stage procedure, around 500 mg/L raw produced yeasts (yRBD) 206 purified (>95%) were obtained. Thereby, represents feasible, simple, scalable, inexpensive procedure obtention kits vaccines’ formulation.