title: Effect of low inoculation density in the scale-up of insect cell cultures.
abstract: The scale-up of insect cell cultures and the production of baculovirus with these cultures is dependent on the inoculation density applied. The effect of applying a low inoculation on the specific growth rate and on the duration of the lag phase was tested. Three different cell lines, HzAm1, Ha2302, and Sf21 were tested in a total of five cell line/medium combinations. Growth in suspension culture was examined, and data obtained were fitted with the Gompertz equation. A significant decline in specific growth rate with decreasing inoculation density was observed in all cell line/medium combinations, except for HzAm1. No critical inoculation density, below which no growth would occur, was found. In suspension culture in shake flasks, an inoculation density of 5 x 10(4) cells/mL is achievable, without severely influencing the overall growth rate. A lower inoculation density in suspension culture results in less steps in the scale-up process and might be a tool in bypassing the viral passage effect.
authors.affiliation: Food and Bioprocess Engineering Group, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Rolf.Marteijn@algemeen.pk.wag-ur.nl
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Marteijn
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Oude-Elferink
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: de Gooijer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tramper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002455:Cell Division; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000166:cytology*