Step 1: Understand the role of hosts in protein production.
When it comes to the production of recombinant therapeutic proteins, particularly those that require complex post-translational modifications like glycosylation, mammalian cell cultures are often preferred. This is because mammalian cells are capable of performing these modifications, which are essential for the biological activity of many therapeutic proteins.
Step 2: Analyze the options.
Pichia pastoris (A) is a yeast used for protein production, but it does not perform complex glycosylation like mammalian cells.
Sf9 cells (B) are insect cells used in the baculovirus expression system, but they are not typically used for glycosylated protein production.
Escherichia coli (C) is a bacterium used for recombinant protein production, but it does not perform glycosylation.
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (D) are the most commonly used mammalian cell line for the production of glycosylated therapeutic proteins. CHO cells can perform the complex glycosylation required for therapeutic proteins.
Step 3: Conclusion.
CHO cells are extensively used in biopharmaceutical production due to their ability to produce proteins that are similar to those made in humans, including glycosylation.
Thus, the correct answer is \( \boxed{(D)} \).