High-density microcarrier cell cultures for influenza virus production

Influenza virus A/PR/8/34 virus propagation in adherent Madin-Darby canine kidney cells in high-density microcarrier cultures is described. To improve virus yields perfusion and repeated fed-batch modes were applied using cell-specific feed rates. Cell densities up to 1.1 x 107 cells/mL were achieved. Cell-specific virus yields in high-density cultures were at similar level compared to standard, low-density cultivations. In the average 2400 and 3300 virions per cell were obtained for two variants of the virus strain A/PR/8/34, PR8-NIBSC and PR8-RKI, respectively. Maximum virus titer (HA-activity = 1778 HAU/100μL) for virus variant PR8-NIBSC was obtained for a cultivation infected before maximum cell concentration was reached. Copyright © 1999-2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved. [accessed December 3rd 2010