Methods for improving cell growth with species-specific or genus-specific proteins and the applications thereof

Abstract

A method for meat production by in vitro cell culture includes isolating tissue from an animal or plant source and making a cell suspension of cells, and growing the cells into a solid or semi-solid structure that mimics an animal organ by growing the cells on a food-grade scaffold in a culture medium. Culture medium comprising growth factor of (i) genetically same or similar species to the cells and/or (ii) genetically same genus to the cells is used. Expression of one or more proteins in the growing cells may be increased by altering a level of one or more micro RNAs that regulate expression of the protein. Additionally, the growing cells may be co-cultured with bioengineered cells that secrete growth factors and cytokines that support the growth of the cells in situ. The co-culturing technique reduces or eliminates the need for animal-derived fetal bovine serum in the culture medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for meat production by in vitro cell culture, comprising:
 isolating a tissue from an animal or plant source and making a cell suspension of cells therefrom;   introducing culture medium comprising one or more growth factors of (i) genetically same or similar species to the suspension of cells and/or (ii) genetically same genus to the suspension of cells; and   growing the suspension of cells on a food-grade scaffold in a culture medium, whereby the suspension of cells grows into a solid or semi-solid structure that mimics an animal organ.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein isolating the tissue comprises isolating an organ tissue from a fish. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of increasing expression of a protein in the suspension of cells by altering a level of one or more micro RNAs that regulate the expression of the protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the organ tissue is derived from fish swim bladder of a fish from the Osteichthyes class. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the protein is collagen. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the micro RNAs are one or both of micro RNA21 (miR-21) and micro RNA 29a (miR-29a). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor is selected from the group consisting of insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R), interleukin 11 (IL-11), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transferrin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor to be introduced to the cell culture medium is obtained from a recombinant cell comprising a gene of the growth factor, wherein the gene of the growth factor is of (i) genetically same or similar species to the suspension of cells and/or (ii) genetically same genus to the suspension of cells. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the recombinant cell is a cell from a prokaryotic organism or an eukaryotic organism. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the recombinant cell is a yeast cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the growth factor to be introduced to the cell culture medium is obtained from a recombinant cell comprising a gene of the growth factor, wherein the gene of the growth factor is of (i) genetically same or similar species to the fish from which the organ tissue is isolated and/or (ii) genetically same genus to fish from which the organ tissue is isolated. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the recombinant cell is a cell from a prokaryotic organism or an eukaryotic organism. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the recombinant cell is a yeast cell. 
     
     
         14 . A method for meat production by in vitro cell culture, comprising:
 isolating a tissue from an animal or plant source and making a cell suspension of cells therefrom;   growing the suspension of cells on a food-grade scaffold in a culture medium, whereby the suspension of cells grows into a solid or semi-solid structure that mimics an animal organ; and   co-culturing the suspension of cells with a plurality of bioengineered cells that secrete nutrients, growth factors, and/or cytokines that support the growth of the suspension of cells, wherein the bioengineered cells is (i) genetically same or similar species to the cells and/or (ii) genetically same genus to the cells.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein isolating the tissue comprises isolating an organ tissue from a fish. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the organ tissue is derived from fish swim bladder of a fish from the Osteichthyes class. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the growth factor is selected from the group consisting of insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R), interleukin 11 (IL-11), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transferrin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the suspension of cells is fish swim bladder cells and the bioengineered cells are fish cells.