Optimization of Propagation of Anagrapha falcifera Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in Spodoptera Frugiperda 21 Cells

Propagation of Anagrapha falcifera nuclear polyhedrosis virus(AfNPV) was investigated using well-plates and split-flow air-lift bioreactors. In well-plate experiments, the effects of pH, cell density at a point of infection, serum concentration, DEAE-dextran, and lipid on virus propagation were all closely examined. The AfNPV titer in well-plates was optimal at pH 6.8 and $3{\times}10^6$ cells/$cm^2$. The virus titer was not dramatically affected when the fetal bovine serum concentration was reduced from 10% to 5%. The addition of cholesterol at AfNPV infection of Sf21 cells enhanced the virus titer, whereas the addition of DEAE-dextran did not improve the titer. The AfNPV titer ($3.8{\times}10^7$ $TCID_{50}/ml$) at optimized conditions for well-plate experiments was 2.5-fold higher than for the control. In bioreactor experiments, the AfNPV titer showed its maximum level at air flow rates of 20-40 ml/min. In a split-flow air-lift bioreactor, AfNPV titer ($2.3{\times}10^7\;TCID_{50}/ml$) was 1.5-fold higher than the control when the culture was at pH 6.8 and supplemented with 0.34 mM cholesterol.