title: Exploring synergies between academia and vaccine manufacturers: a pilot study on how to rapidly produce vaccines to combat emerging pathogens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spring 2009, a new swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged in Mexico. During the following weeks the virus spread worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization to declare the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. Sustained human-to-human transmission and severe disease progression observed in some patients urged public health authorities to respond rapidly to the disease outbreak and vaccine manufacturers to develop pandemic influenza vaccines for mass distribution. With the onset of the pandemic we began to explore the potential of academic/industrial collaboration to accelerate the production of vaccines during an outbreak of an emerging virus by combining the use of an academic BSL-4 laboratory with the expertise of a commercial vaccine manufacturer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To obtain virus seed stocks used for the production of a vaccine to combat the pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus (H1N1pdm), we followed various strategies: (i) optimization of cell culture conditions for growth of wild-type H1N1pdm isolates; (ii) classical reassortment of H1N1pdm and standard influenza vaccine donor strain PR8; and (iii) generation of corresponding reassortant viruses using reverse genetics. To ensure a rapid transition to production, the entire potential seed stock development process was carried out in a certified canine kidney suspension cell line (MDCK 33016-PF) under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcome of this study indicates that a combination of different experimental strategies is the best way to cope with the need to develop vaccines rapidly in the midst of an emerging pandemic.
authors: Institut für Virologie der Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Strecker
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Uhlendorff
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Diederich
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Lenz-Bauer
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Trusheim
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Roth
authors: Larissa
authors: L
authors: Kolesnikova
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Aepinus
authors: Reiner
authors: R
authors: Dornow
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Gerlach
authors: Mikhail
authors: M
authors: Matrosovich
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Valley
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Eickmann
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Becker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D004345:Drug Industry; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D058873:Pandemics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000821:virology; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines