Virus Production in Vero Cells Using a Serum-free Medium

Abstract

The manufacture of viral vaccines has historically been accomplished using animal products such as chicken eggs, or cell cultures using fetal bovine serum. To reduce regulatory concerns in vaccine production, serum-free cell culture processes are being embraced by the vaccine industry. The Vero cell line initiated from the African green monkey is an excellent cell line for the production of animal and human prophylactic viral vaccines. We have developed a serum-free (SF) and animal-component free (ACF) medium for the production of viral vaccines using the Vero cell line. This medium supports growth of Vero cells on microcarriers in a controlled bioreactor environment and virus production equivalent to scrum-containing cultures. These characteristics make this an ideal medium for vaccine production using the Vero cell line.