Containers for transporting and inoculating pupae

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1) that can be used to store, transport, and inoculate silk-free pupae. The container (1) comprises a tray (2) having a substantially flat surface (5) and a plurality of wells (4) formed on the surface (5), each well (4) configured to accommodate a pupae (8). The container (1) also comprises a lid (3) having a plurality of openings (6), the tray (2) and the lid (3) configured to be joined together such that the lid (3) is at least partially disposed on the flat surface (5) and closes the wells (4). The wells (4) and openings (6) are arranged such that each well (4) is accessible through the opening (6) when the tray (2) and the lid (3) are joined together. The container is stackable for optimal, cost-effective, and safe transportation.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to containers for storing and transporting live insects.

[0002] It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose container that can be used to store, transport and inoculate insects, in particular silk-free pupae, preferably for the automated industrial production of recombinant proteins from infected insect pupae.

[0003] The container object of the present invention is stackable for optimal, cost-effective and safe transportation, while ensuring that the pupae are exposed to an appropriate environment in terms of temperature and humidity during storage and transportation.

[0004] Furthermore, the container object of the present invention is disposable and can be manufactured in large quantities at low cost. [Background technology]

[0005] For example, it is known to use larvae as living biofactories to express recombinant proteins in order to produce vaccines, therapeutic molecules or diagnostic reagents.

[0006] For example, PCT publication WO2017 / 046415 describes means and methods for optimizing the industrial production of recombinant proteins in insect pupae. In the method described in this PCT publication, insect larvae are grown in large quantities in a rearing module until they become pupae covered with silk cocoons. The pupae are subjected to a silk removal process by immersing or spraying the cocoons with a dissolving solution, and then the silk-free pupae are washed to remove traces of the dissolving solution.

[0007] After drying the pupae, the silk-free pupae are ready to be inoculated with a recombinant viral vector or stored refrigerated (e.g., at 4° C.) for later use. Typically, the pupae are packaged and shipped (refrigerated) to an industrial production laboratory where they are inoculated (infected) to obtain recombinant protein purified from the infected pupae after an incubation period.

[0008] To inoculate the pupae, they are placed into a matrix or array of small holes, and a robot equipped with one or more needles injects a predetermined amount of solution containing the viral vector into each pupa as the pupae are positioned within the matrix or array, making programming the robot straightforward.

[0009] The process of transporting and storing pupae before and after inoculation with vectors is complicated because they are fragile living organisms and their stockpiling can affect their viability or productivity as bioreactors. In the prior art, insect pupae were manually allocated into reusable plastic matrices. This methodology is time-consuming and cannot be automated. Furthermore, the use of reusable plastic matrices can cause cross-contamination when different vectors are used to produce different products in the same inoculation machine.

[0010] For optimization of industrial production of recombinant proteins in automated processes, efficient transport and handling of the pupae is an essential part of the process. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present invention, as defined in the accompanying independent claims, advantageously solves the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a container that is stackable and can be used to store, transport and inoculate pupae in a fully automated process that avoids manual handling of the pupae.

[0012] Thus, one aspect of the invention relates to a container for transporting and inoculating pupae, the container comprising a tray having a substantially flat surface and a plurality of wells formed in the surface, each well configured to receive a pupae. The container also includes a lid for at least partially closing the wells, the tray and lid being configured to be mated together such that the lid is disposed on the flat surface of the tray holding the pupae enclosed within the wells.

[0013] The lid is arranged as a plurality of openings arranged corresponding to the locations of the wells, so that when the lid and tray are joined together, the openings are individually located above the wells and each well is accessible through the openings, which are smaller in area than the wells, so that silk-free pupae received in the wells cannot pass through the openings, i.e., the pupae are retained inside the well in which they are placed.

[0014] The wells and openings are distributed in a regular arrangement, preferably the wells and openings are distributed in columns and rows forming an orthogonal matrix.

[0015] Additionally, the tray and lid are provided with interlocking means for securely holding the tray and lid engaged during all stages of the process, i.e. storage, transport, inoculation and incubation. Preferably, the interlocking means is integrally formed with the tray and lid and configured to mechanically engage the tray and lid such that the lid overlaps a flat surface of the tray.

[0016] The containers are configured to be stackable, so that two or more containers can be stacked on top of each other to form a stack of containers, which are further packaged in a common container, preferably a refrigerated container. This stackable feature of the containers is very convenient for optimizing the use of space for storing and shipping the containers.

[0017] Two or more containers can be stacked by at least partially inserting the top of a container into the tray of another container from below. Preferably, the tray is formed by a base defining a flat surface and having four sides, and side walls projecting transversely from the base and extending along the four sides of the base.

[0018] Similarly, the lid has a base having four sides and a sidewall projecting transversely from the base and extending along the four sides of the base. The tray and lid are configured such that their bases and sidewalls at least partially overlap when they are joined together.

[0019] Preferably, the tray and lid have a truncated pyramidal configuration to facilitate stacking of two containers by inserting the top of one container at least partially into the tray of another container from below.

[0020] An air chamber is formed between each pair of successively stacked containers to fluidly communicate the wells of the same tray. Furthermore, the containers are configured to define ventilation passages between the stacked trays, thereby communicating the air chambers with the external environment, so that all wells are in fluid communication with the external environment for proper ventilation, e.g., in a controlled environment with respect to temperature and humidity suitable for storing the pupae in optimal conditions.

[0021] These vent passages are formed as overlapping vent openings formed in the lid and tray base of each container so that when the lid and tray are joined, the vent openings overlap to allow air to flow through the air chamber and to the exterior.

[0022] Additionally, vent passages are also provided laterally through the stacked containers in the form of cavities or separators between the side walls of each pair of the stacked containers.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the container incorporates an information code carrying information for tracking the container and / or for inoculating the pupae. The information code is an electronically, electromagnetically or optically readable code that can be read by an inoculation robot. Preferably, the container has a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that includes the information code.

[0024] The container is therefore compatible with inoculation robots since there is no need to manually introduce instruction data into the robot for inoculating the pupae.

[0025] The present invention also refers to a set of stacked containers as described above, wherein an air passage is formed laterally between any two consecutive stacked containers, and an air passage communicating the air chambers is formed by a pair of consecutive stacked containers.

[0026] The present invention also refers to a temperature and / or humidity controlled package comprising two or more of the above containers stacked together and arranged in a package, the storage air within the package reaching each pupae through a ventilation passage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention, with the tray and lid shown unattached.

[0029] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the same embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0030] [Diagram 3] FIG.

[0031] [Figure 4] FIG.

[0032] [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a top view of the lid and tray joined together.

[0033] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along plane AA of FIG. 5.

[0034] [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along plane BB of FIG. 5.

[0035] [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tray and lid joined together.

[0036] [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view of the tray and lid joined together.

[0037] [Figure 10] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional elevation view of several stacked containers and an enlarged detailed view of the containers, with air circulation between the stacked containers indicated by arrows.

[0038] [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container in use while being placed in a compatible baculovirus vector inoculation robot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] As shown in Figure 1, a container (1) according to the present invention comprises a tray (2) and a lid (3) that can be coupled together for storing and transporting pupae. The tray (2) has a flat surface (5) and a number of wells (4) formed on the surface (5), each well (4) configured to receive and hold a pupae.

[0040] The lid (3) has a flat surface (7) with a number of openings (6) arranged corresponding to the positions of the wells (4) in the tray, so that when the tray (2) and lid (3) are joined together, the lid (3) partially closes the wells (4) enclosing the pupae, and each well (4) is accessible via an opening (6), as shown, for example, in FIG. 10.

[0041] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, preferably the wells (4) and openings (6) are distributed in columns and rows forming an orthogonal matrix.

[0042] The internal shape of each well (4) is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 10. More specifically, each well (4) is an elongated receptacle having a generally truncated pyramidal configuration, with a concave bottom, sloping sides and an open upper base. This internal shape of each well (4) has the advantage that the pupae (8) are held in a fixed position relative to a corresponding opening (6) directly above the well (4) through which the needle is inserted during the inoculation process, thereby preventing undesired displacement of the pupae (8) during the penetration of the needle into the pupae.

[0043] The tray (2) has a rectangular base (11) defining a flat surface (5) in which the wells (4) are formed, and four side walls (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) on each of the four sides of the base (11) and projecting transversely from the base (11). Similarly, the lid (3) has a rectangular base (21) and four side walls (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) projecting transversely from each of the four sides of the base (21).

[0044] Both the tray (2) and the lid (3) have a truncated pyramidal configuration that is shaped and dimensioned to be joined together, for example as shown in Figures 6 and 7, so that when they are joined together, the bases (5, 21) and side walls (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b, 12c, 13c, 12d, 13d) overlap.

[0045] To securely hold the tray and lid in an engaged state during storage and transport, the tray (2) and lid (3) are provided with cooperating connecting means (9, 10) located on the side walls (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b, 12c, 13c, 12d, 13d) of the tray (2) and lid (3). In the preferred embodiment, the connecting means are configured as complementarily shaped male (9) and female (10) snap-fitting members integrally formed with the tray (2) and lid (3), respectively, and located near the four corners of the container (1). To join the tray and lid, the male (9) and female (10) snap-fitting members are pressed together until the male members (9) engage the female members (10).

[0046] As shown in FIG. 10, the container (1) is configured to be stackable by inserting the top of the container into the tray of another container.

[0047] An air chamber (18) is formed between each pair of successively stacked containers (1) fluidly communicating with the wells (4) of the same tray (1). The containers (1) are further configured to define vent passages (17) between the stacked containers (1), as shown in Figure 10, which vent passages (17) fluidly connect the air chambers (18) to the external environment, such that each well (4) is in fluid communication with the external environment via the vent passages (17).

[0048] Additionally, additional vent passages include overlapping vent openings (16, 16') formed in the container lid (3) and tray (2) when the lid and tray are joined together.

[0049] Furthermore, the container (1) is provided with an information code containing data and instructions for tracking the pupae incorporated in the container and / or for inoculating the pupae. This code is an electronically, electromagnetically or optically readable code. Preferably, the code is stored in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (14) attached to the tray (3), for example glued in a recess (15) formed in the tray (3) and closed by the lid (3), whereby the tag (14) is readable through the lid (3). The code preferably contains information such as the expiry date of the pupae, inoculation data, tracking number, etc.

[0050] The tray and / or lid include reinforcing means for structurally reinforcing the tray and / or lid, respectively, comprising at least one channel or groove (19, 19') in the base (11) of the tray (2) and at least one channel or groove (20, 20') in the base (21) of the lid (3). The grooves (19, 19', 20, 20') are recessed from the base (11) of the tray (2) and the base (21) of the lid (2), respectively, extend transversely to the tray and lid, and are positioned such that when the tray and lid are joined together, the grooves (20, 20') of the lid (3) are received within the grooves (19, 19') of the tray (2), as shown in FIG. 7.

[0051] Reinforcing grooves (21, 22) are also formed in the side walls (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b, 12c, 13c, 12d, 13d) of the tray (2) and the lid (3).

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the tray (2) and lid (3) are conventionally obtained by thermoforming respective sheets of a suitable plastic material.

[0053] Figure 11 shows the container (1) used while placed in a robot (24) adapted to inoculate the pupae in the container with the baculovirus vector (1). The inoculation robot (24) comprises an inoculation unit (23) displaceable to specific positions according to a matrix distribution of holes above the pupae to be inoculated by needles (not shown) mounted on the inoculation unit (23). The inoculation unit is connected to a precision pump that dispenses a desired volume of the baculovirus vector into the pupae.

[0054] The inoculation robot (24) further incorporates a reading unit (25) adapted to read an information code, in this case an (RFID) tag, provided in the container (1), whereby the information contained in the code, such as the expiry date of the pupae, the inoculation instruction data and / or the container tracking number, is loaded into the inoculation robot (24).

Claims

1. A container (1) for transporting and inoculating pupae, comprising: a tray (2) having a substantially flat surface (5) and a plurality of wells (4) formed on said surface (5), each well (4) configured to receive a pupa (8); A lid (3) having a plurality of openings (6), the tray (2) and the lid (3) are configured to be joined together such that the lid (3) is at least partially placed on the flat surface (5) and closes the wells (4); the wells (4) and the openings (6) are arranged such that, when the tray (2) and the lid (3) are joined together, each well (4) is accessible through an opening (6); said tray (2) and said lid (3) are provided with coupling means (9, 10) for mechanically holding said tray (2) and said lid (3) in engaged state; The vessel, wherein each well (4) has an elongated, generally truncated pyramidal configuration with a concave bottom, sloping sides and an open upper base, and is configured to hold one pupa (8) in a fixed position relative to a corresponding opening (6) directly above said well (4).

2. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the containers (1) are configured as stackable containers such that two or more containers (1) can be stacked on top of each other by inserting the top of a container at least partially into the tray of another container from below, and an air chamber (18) is formed between each pair of consecutively stacked containers (1) by fluidly connecting the wells (4) of the containers (1).

3. 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the containers (1) are further configured to define ventilation passages (17, 16, 16') between stacked containers (1), the ventilation passages (17, 16, 16') fluidly connecting the air chamber (18) to an external environment, such that each well (4) is in fluid communication with the external environment via the ventilation passages (17, 16, 16').

4. 4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the ventilation passages comprise overlapping ventilation openings (16, 16') formed in the lid (3) and the tray (2) of the container, and / or the ventilation passages (17) are formed laterally between stacked containers (1).

5. 5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tray (2) and the lid (3) have a truncated pyramidal configuration, the tray (2) having a base (11) defining the flat surface (5) and having four sides, and sidewalls (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) projecting transversely from the base and extending along the four sides of the base, and the lid (3) having a base (7) having four sides, and sidewalls (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) projecting transversely from the base (7) and extending along the four sides of the base, and the tray (2) and the lid (3) are configured such that when they are joined together, the base (7, 11) and sidewalls (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b, 12c, 13c, 12d, 13d) overlap.

6. 6. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wells (4) and the openings (6) are distributed in columns and rows forming an orthogonal matrix.

7. 7. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, provided with an information code carrying information for tracking the container and / or for inoculating the pupae.

8. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the information code is an electronically, electromagnetically or optically readable code.

9. 9. The container of claim 7 or 8, further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (14) containing said information code.

10. 10. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tray (2) and / or the lid (3) comprise reinforcing means (19, 19', 20, 20', 21, 22) for structurally reinforcing the tray and / or the lid, respectively.

11. 6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the connecting means (9, 10) are provided on the side walls of the tray and the lid and are configured as male and female snap-fit ​​members.

12. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray (2) and the lid (3) are obtained by thermoforming a plastic sheet.

13. 11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing means comprises at least one groove (19, 19') in the base of the tray (2) and at least one groove (20, 20') in the base of the lid (3), said grooves being recessed from the base of the tray and the base of the lid, respectively, said grooves extending transversely to the tray and the lid and arranged to overlap when the tray and the lid are joined together.

14. 14. A set of stacked containers according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a ventilation passage is formed laterally between any two consecutively stacked containers, the ventilation passage fluidly connecting the air chamber formed between each pair of consecutively stacked containers to the external environment.

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