Satellite Workshop: Hands-on small scale Pichia fermentation (Lunch-to-Lunch!) - Part II

In recombinant protein production (RPP), scaling up a bioprocess is a critical step that often determines the feasibility of an industrial application at an early stage. This compact one-day course (lunch-to-lunch) on precision fermentation focuses on recombinant protein production with Pichia pastoris (reclassified as Komagataella phaffii).

The program combines theoretical background with practical training and places particular emphasis on advanced methanol-free expression systems. Participants will work with the state-of-the-art DASbox system from Eppendorf, which enables the parallel cultivation of multiple microbial cultures in fully controlled fermenters. This setup allows precise regulation and optimization of fermentation parameters, thereby improving process efficiency and reproducibility.

Course content includes an introduction to Pichia bioprocess-design options, the calculation of feed strategies, and the design of process-control schemes. Participants will also gain practical insight into bioreactor operation through demonstrations covering vessel assembly, sensor handling, sampling and harvest. Finally, the course will address bioprocess data evaluation, including online and offline process data, as well as key factors affecting product quality and quantity.

Locations: Institute of Molecular Biotechnology/TU Graz (theoretical sessions), and the company bisy (practical sessions).

Lecturers:

• Prof. Anton Glieder, TU Graz, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology and bisy GmbH

• Xavier Garcia-Ortega, PhD, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)

• DI Tobias Baumgartner, bisy GmbH

• Miguel Angel Nieto-Taype, PhD, bisy GmbH

Only available for participants with a valid ticket ("esib & Satellite Workshop "Fermentation"), Limited to 20 participants.