Customer Experience Blog: Exploring Bacteriophage Purification with Arik Makovitzki
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, offering a promising approach to combat antibiotic-resistant strains. In this insightful interview, Dr. Arik Makovitzki from the Israel Institute of Biological Research shares his experiences and challenges in purifying these phages, highlighting innovative solutions that have transformed his work.
Arik discusses his work with phages targeting Y. pestis and Burkholderia cepacia, as well as a phage used for vaccination. A significant challenge in the purification process is the removal of endotoxins, which are present in high concentrations due to bacterial fermentation. Traditional resins often struggle with this, leading to issues in robustness and yield.
It was during the MSS2022 conference, and through interactions with Sartorius Israel representatives, that Arik first learned about the potential of CIMmultus monoliths for phage purification. After testing various columns, he found CIMmultus monoliths to be stable and efficient, particularly in the final purification stages.
Arik shares a compelling story about his experience with the PrimaS column:
“When I first used the PrimaS column, my technician conducted an experiment to analyze the endotoxins. When he brought me the results, I told him it was impossible for the endotoxin level to be so low and sent him to analyze it again. When he returned with the same results, I realized I had a winning column for my research and process development in bacteriophage products.”
Highlights from the Interview
In your opinion, what are the main benefits of using CIMmultus monoliths compared to other purification technologies?
Arik: “When I tried the PrimaS column in the final stage of the purification process I developed, I found it very stable in purifying endotoxins while preserving high yields of the phages. Additionally, the process is very stable and repeatable, with the advantage of a high flow rate that I can work with.”
Did CIMmultus OH replace TFF in the process you tested?
Arik: “In a few processes that I made, I replaced TFF with CIMmultus OH and had excellent results in removing the host cell protein of E. coli and host cell DNA that was not digested before. It’s very important without needing to use a digestive enzyme, and in the future, I plan to use it more and develop processes that include CIMmultus OH.”
Do you implement CIMmultus monoliths as a single-use or multi-use solution?
Arik: “I’m using it in a multiuse solution. Sartorius BIA Separations provided me with an excellent CIP process in which I’m cleaning the column, and the column repeats the purification process with the same efficiency as it was at the beginning.”
For those interested in more details, you can access the full interview and video here.
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