Defined Media, Defined Results: Scaling E. coli From Bench To Fermenter

Microbial systems are central to the production of plasmid DNA and recombinant proteins, but transitioning from development to large-scale manufacturing often introduces variability, performance constraints, and regulatory challenges — particularly when complex or undefined media components are used. As the industry seeks higher yields, greater reproducibility, and animal-origin-free processes, chemically defined media are emerging as a critical enabler of consistent and scalable production.

This webinar brings together practical and technical perspectives on adopting defined systems in E. coli workflows. Stanislav Pepeliaev, Ph.D., shares firsthand insights from beta testing conducted at the Jenner Institute using next-generation chemically defined fermentation media, highlighting observed improvements in culture performance, process robustness, and workflow integration for plasmid DNA and recombinant protein production. Building on these findings, fermentation expert Neelanjan (Neel) Sengupta, Ph.D., explores scale-up considerations, focusing on how defined media can support the transition from bench-scale development to controlled, single-use fermenter environments.

The session concludes with a live Q&A featuring both speakers, along with Mark Wight, offering attendees the opportunity to discuss implementation strategies and address specific challenges. Viewers will gain a clearer understanding of the advantages of chemically defined media in E. coli systems, review real-world data supporting plasmid DNA workflows, and learn practical approaches for scaling processes into robust manufacturing settings.