title: Growth and immunogenicity of influenza viruses cultivated in Vero or MDCK cells and in embryonated chicken eggs.
abstract: Vero cells, MDCK cells and embryonated chicken eggs (eggs) were used to evaluate influenza virus growth characteristics and immunogenicity induced by inactivated influenza B vaccines. Both cell lines produced comparable quantities of total viral and haemagglutinin (HA) proteins. Sequence analysis indicated genetic identity of the HA of Vero- and MDCK-grown virus counterparts with maintenance of antigenic characteristics of viruses derived from humans. The egg-grown influenza B/Memphis/1/93 variant differed from cell-grown counterparts at amino acid position 198 (Pro-Thr) and lost a glycosylation site. The level of neuraminidase (NA) activity was the highest in egg-grown virus, while MDCK- and Vero cell-grown viruses possessed 70% and 90% less NA activity respectively when fetuin was used as a substrate. Although each of the vaccines induced high and comparable levels of serum antibodies, mammalian cell-derived vaccines induced antibodies that were more cross reactive, and those antibodies induced by egg-derived vaccine were more specific to the homologous antigen. ELISPOT analysis indicated that the mammalian cell-grown vaccines induced high frequencies of IgG-producing cells directed against both cell- and egg-grown antigens, while egg-grown vaccine induced high frequencies of IgG and IgM-producing cells reacting with homologous antigen and low levels of IgG-producing cells reactive with cell-grown virus antigen. Taken together, our results suggest that mammalian cells are a viable option for the production of influenza virus vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Govorkova
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodihalli
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Alymova
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fanget
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014776:Virus Cultivation
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins