Baculovirus expression vector system: An efficient tool for the production of heterologous recombinant proteins

Today, the recombinant proteins become a major foundation of different industrial sectors. Products of these industries enhance the fields of medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, nutrition, petrochemicals, paper, textiles and many others. Since the mid 1980s, recombinant DNA technology has enabled the development of a wide diversity of vectors for expression of the desired recombinant protein in numerous prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Baculovirus expression vector system is considered one of the most successful and widely acceptable means for the production of recombinant proteins in extremely large quantities. Proper posttranslational modifications of the expressed proteins in insect cells, the usual host of baculoviruses, get them soluble, correctly folded and biologically active products. Along with the convenient biological safety, the easy scale up production of recombinant proteins into industrial levels brings this system the first choice in most cases. In the current review, different aspects of the baculovirus biology, structure and morphology are briefly covered to establish the basic concepts important for understanding the mechanisms involved in utilization of baculoviruses as expression vectors. Few outlines on the baculovirus expression system are discussed in terms of potentials, limitations, strategies and perspectives.