Kinetic characterization of baculovirus-induced cell death in insect cell cultures

The death process of baculovirus-infected insect cells was divided into two phases: a constant viability (or delay) phase characterized by a delay time (t(d)) and a first-order death phase characterized by a half-life (t(1/2)). These two parameters were used in conjunction with the n-target theory to classify the kinetics of cell death under various conditions, including different multiplicity of infection (MOI), host cell lines, virus types, incubation volumes, cell density and extracellular L(+)-lactate and ammonium concentrations. Two groups of kinetic effects were found: one characterized by a constant number of hypothetical targets and the other by decreased numbers of hypothetical targets. The first group includes effects such as MOI, virus types, and host cell lines. The second includes the effects of environmental perturbations, such as incubation volume, cell density, and extracellular concentrations of L(+)-lactate and ammonium. Although the underlying mechanisms of these effects are as yet unknown, the death kinetics of infected cells significantly affects the recombinant protein production. In general, foreign protein production does not correlate with the cell life after infection.