Yeast-based protein expression systems will play an important role in future health emergencies, according to new analysis, which argues that the approach addresses some of the challenges associated with other vaccine production methods.
Messenger RNA and viral vector-based manufacturing technologies were critical early in the COVID-19 pandemic, with companies like Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca using them to develop and launch vaccines in record time.
However, as the emergency continued, the complexity and cost of making these products, as well as the need for cold-chain distribution systems, negatively impacted access to COVID-19 jabs, particularly in low-income countries.
These challenges prompted a reassessment of manufacturing methods, with yeast-based systems emerging as a cheaper, more straightforward potential alternative, according to Piyush Baindara, PhD, at the University of Missouri, co-author of a new study.
“Vaccine developers should consider yeast [during future healthcare emergencies] because it combines speed, scalability, and practicality in a way few platforms can.
“Compared with mammalian cell culture, yeast is simpler and more cost-effective,” he tells GEN, adding, “It grows to high densities, requires less complex infrastructure, and is easier to scale globally, including in low- and middle-income countries. This lowers manufacturing costs and supports decentralized or regional vaccine production.”
Pandemics and outbreaks
Another advantage is versatility. Baindara says, “Yeast can efficiently produce recombinant antigens and virus-like particles, and it also contains natural immune-stimulating components, such as β-glucans that may enhance vaccine responses without added adjuvants.
“Overall, yeast-based platforms offer a robust, affordable, and scalable alternative that complements existing technologies and strengthens global vaccine preparedness.”
Yeast-based vaccine production is also free of the vulnerabilities associated with the egg-based systems used to make influenza vaccines.
Baindara adds, “Egg systems are slow to scale, vulnerable to supply disruptions, and poorly suited for rapidly evolving pathogens. Yeast can be grown quickly, year-round, and does not depend on agricultural supply chains. That makes it especially valuable during outbreaks or pandemics.”
Glycosylation process
One potential issue with yeast-based vaccine manufacturing is that, although in general such processes are simpler than mRNA and vector-based methods, some additional downstream processing steps are required.
Baindara says, “In terms of processing, yeast-derived vaccine components generally require standard downstream purification steps such as cell disruption, filtration, and chromatography, similar to other recombinant platforms. One additional consideration is glycosylation.
“Yeast adds sugars to proteins differently than mammalian cells, so for some antigens, developers may need to modify the yeast strain or include glyco-engineering steps to achieve the desired structure and immune response.”
Fortunately, such steps are easy to implement, according to Baindara, who adds, “Ultimately, yeast systems simplify upstream manufacturing and add only modest, well-understood adjustments downstream, making them a practical and flexible alternative to conventional vaccine production platforms.”
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