Improving the Yield of Influenza Viruses and Vaccines Generated in Cell-Based Systems
Reference Number: 11-30
Inventors: Juergen Richt and Porntippa Lekcharoensuk
Description:
Researchers at Kansas State University and Kasetsart University (Thailand) have discovered a reverse genetic system that has shown influenza A viruses with a rg1930 backbone grow to very high titers in mammalian cells and eggs. This system could improve the yield of influenza viruses and vaccines generated in mammalian cells and not be limited by a supply shortage of specific pathogen free (SPF) embryonated eggs for vaccine production.
Reverse genetic viruses for influenza vaccine production usually utilize the internal genes of the egg-adapted A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) strain. This egg-adapted strain provides high production yield in embryonated eggs but does not necessarily give the best yield in mammalian cell culture. There is a need to develop a method to generate a reverse genetic viral backbone that is well-adapted to high growth in mammalian cell culture.
The researchers have discovered that a reverse genetics system using 6 plasmids coding for the internal genes of influenza A virus A/swine/IA/15/30 (rg1930) grows to very high titers in mammalian cell cultures. This newly established reverse genetic backbone system could serve as a candidate for a master donor strain for development of inactivated influenza vaccines in cell-based systems.
Advantages:
- The viruses with rg1930 backbone grow well in both eggs and cell lines
- The rg1930-based viruses yield higher viral titers than PR8-based reverse viruses in cell cultures
- The rg1930 internal genes contain genetic markers for easy monitoring
Applications:
- Influenza vaccines for humans, birds, swine, dogs, horses and seals
- Utilized for high production yield of influenza vaccine in cell cultures
Patent Status
- Provisional patent application filed in October 2011.
Kansas State University Research Foundation seeks to have discussions with companies that are interested in licensing and/or research collaborations.
Interested parties should contact:
Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization (KSU-IC)
2005 Research Park Circle Manhattan, KS 66502
Tel: 785-532-3900 Fax: 785-532-3909
E-Mail: ic@k-state.edu