# Rapid mass production of human influenza vaccine in insects using genome editing

> **NIH ALLCDC R43** · BETA HATCH INC. · 2021 · $243,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 As the recent COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, the rapid mass production of vaccines
for emerging infectious diseases is of paramount importance. The use of the baculovirus/insect
cell expression system for in vitro protein expression has been a game changer for vaccine
production, but it also introduces challenges: transfection can be difficult, needs to be repeated
with every batch, and the final product requires multiple purification steps to remove the residual
baculovirus. We propose an alternative approach that could side-step the drawbacks associated
with baculovirus/insect cell expression system: in vivo vaccine production in a scalable insect
non-mammalian genetic model system. We aim to achieve this by using the CRISPR-Cas9
system to insert viral antigen genes for human and avian influenza into insects that are already
mass produced for feed and/or waste management. Both the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)
and the blow fly (Phormia regina) are promising bioreactors for manipulating protein expression
in vivo due to their high metabolism and fecundity, ease of rearing, high resilience, and versatility
in mass production systems (large-scale production facilities already exist for both insects). Unlike
existing transgenic insect hosts such as cabbage looper larvae, both mealworms and blowflies
are gregarious and can be cost effectively mass-reared at a scale of several tons per day. By
using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique for recombinant protein expression to express influenza
antigens in these insects, we will engineer life-stage dependent activation of the antigen
production. Using existing technologies to facilitate rapid antigen protein purification, we will
confirm the antigen production and characterize it. Finally, we will quantify what impact (if any)
the modified genome has on phenotypes relevant to mass production and validate cost
considerations for production. This work will set the stage for a steady supply of low-cost and
customizable antigens, using insect biomass as an affordable and scalable bioreactor.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10326120
- **Project number:** 1R43IP001169-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BETA HATCH INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Virginia Emery
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $243,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2022-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10326120

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10326120, Rapid mass production of human influenza vaccine in insects using genome editing (1R43IP001169-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10326120. Licensed CC0.

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