A structured dynamic model for the baculovirus infection process in insect‐cell reactor configurations

A mathematical description of the infection of insect cells with baculovirus in a continuously operated reactor configuration is presented. The reactor configuration consists of one bioreactor in which insect cells ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) are grown followed by one or two bioreactors in which cells are infected by a baculovirs ( Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus). It was demonstrated that the so‐called passage effect is responsible for the observed difference in run time between a configuration with one or with two infection vessels. Furthermore, a model is presented based on the hypothesis that the limited run time of series of continuously operated bioreactors is associated with the occurrence of a virus particle (so‐called virion) that is defective and has interfering properties. With the assumption that not all nonoccluded virions are capable of establishing a correct infection leading to new virus production, infection levels in continuously operated reactor configurations could be described well with the model. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.