A Simulation Analysis of an Influenza Vaccine Production Plant in Areas of High Humanitarian Flow. A Preliminary Study for the Region of Norte de Santander (Colombia)

Jefferson E Contreras-Ropero,Néstor A Urbina-Suarez,Janet B García-Martínez,Germán L López-Barrera,Andrés F Barajas-Solano,Antonio Zuorro,Silvia L Ruiz-Roa

doi:10.3390/app12010183

Jefferson E Contreras-Ropero, Néstor A Urbina-Suarez + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010183

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Abstract

The production of vaccines of biological origin presents a tremendous challenge for researchers. In this context, animal cell cultures are an excellent alternative for the isolation and production of biologicals against several viruses, since they have an affinity with viruses and a great capacity for their replicability. Different variables have been studied to know the system’s ideal parameters, allowing it to obtain profitable and competitive products. Consequently, this work focuses its efforts on evaluating an alternative for producing an anti-influenza biological from MDCK cells using SuperPro Designer v8.0 software. The process uses the DMEN culture medium supplemented with nutrients as raw material for cell development; the MDCK cells were obtained from a potential scale-up with a final working volume of 500 L, four days of residence time, inoculum volume of 10%, and continuous working mode with up to a total of 7400 h/Yr of work. The scheme has the necessary equipment for the vaccine’s production, infection, and manufacture with yields of up to 416,698 units/h. In addition, it was estimated to be economically viable to produce recombinant vaccines with competitive prices of up to 0.31 USD/unit.

Highlights

Influenza is an acute viral infection that can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe, including bronchitis, pneumonia, and death, especially in patients with risk factors [1]
In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 emergency, approximately 6.7 million people suffered symptomatic influenza infection, with over twenty thousand hospitalizations in intensive care units; most of these cases were reported in the region of Norte de Santander [2]
The process of vaccine production using recombinant viruses and animal cell cultures consists of three critical steps that correspond to two industrial faces of the process (Upstream and Downstream)

Summary

Introduction

Influenza is an acute viral infection that can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe, including bronchitis, pneumonia, and death, especially in patients with risk factors [1]. Unlike in the United States, where there is one influenza season, in Colombia, it occurs in two peaks (March–June, and September–November) [2]. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 emergency, approximately 6.7 million people suffered symptomatic influenza infection, with over twenty thousand hospitalizations in intensive care units; most of these cases were reported in the region of Norte de Santander [2]. The region of Norte de Santander is located on the northeast side of Colombia and shares a wide border with Venezuela. Due to the economic instability experienced in the last 10 years by the neighboring country, a substantial share of their citizens have migrated to Colombia and other Latin American countries using the control border located in the cities of Cucuta and.

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