Journal List > J Bacteriol Virol > v.43(1) > 1034114

Lee, Kim, and Park: Cell Culture-based Influenza Vaccines as Alternatives to Egg-based Vaccines

Abstract

Influenza viruses have raised public health concerns by seasonal epidemics and intermittent pandemics. Vaccination is considered as the most effective method for preventing influenza infection in humans. Current influenza vaccines are mostly produced in fertile chicken eggs. However, disadvantages of egg-based vaccines, such as egg dependency, labor-intensive manufacturing system, and huddle for large-scale output, allow us to make an alternative method. A cell-culture platform may be a fine alternative for the next generation vaccine technique. Compared with a classical egg-based method, cell-grown vaccines provide stable pipeline even in the pandemic situation with shorter lead-in times. In addition, cell-grown vaccines are flexible for altering production scales because stocked cell batches can be easily sub-cultured in large quantity without worrying avian diseases and a resultant decrease in egg production. By World Health Organization, MDCK, PER.C6, and Vero cells are only recommended for manufacturing influenza vaccines. In this review, we discuss the necessity, immunogenicity, and efficacy of cell-grown influenza vaccines compared with egg-based vaccines.

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Figure 1.
A new paradigm for next generation of influenza vaccine. Cell culture-based influenza vaccine is challenging to issues caused by egg-based influenza vaccine.
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Table 1.
Licensed cell-culture based viral vaccines in the United States.
Virus Type Trade name Cell line Company
Adenovirus Live No Trade Name WI-38 Barr Labs, Inc.
Hepatitis A Inactivated Havrix MRC-5 Merck & Co, Inc.
Inactivated VAQTA MRC-5 GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Japanese Encephalitis Inactivated Ixiaro Vero Intercell Biomedical
Measles Live-attenuated Attenuvax CEF Merck & Co, Inc.
Poliovirus Inactivated IPOL Vero Sanofi Pasteur, SA
Rabies Inactivated Imovax MRC-5 Sanofi Pasteur, SA
Inactivated RabAvert CEF Novartis
Rotavirus Live-attenuated ROTARIX Vero GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Live-attenuated RotaTeq Vero Merck & Co., Inc.
Vaccinia Live-attenuated ACAM2000 Vero Sanofi Pasteur Biologics Co.
Varicella-zoster virus Live-attenuated Varivax MRC-5 Merck & Co, Inc.
Live-attenuated Zostavax MRC-5 Merck & Co, Inc.
MMR Live-attenuated M-M-R II CEF, CEF, WI-38 Merck & Co, Inc.
MMRV§ Live-attenuated ProQuad CEF, CEF, WI-38, MRC-5 Merck & Co, Inc.

Data are collected from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

§ Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella

Table 2.
Authorized cell-culture based influenza vaccines.
Trade name Viruses Cell line Authorization Company
Influvac Seasonal MDCK 2001; The Netherlands Solvay
InfluJect Seasonal Vero 2002; The Netherlands Baxter
Optaflu Seasonal MDCK 2007; EU Novartis
Celvapan Pandemic Vero 2009; EU Baxter
Celtura Pandemic MDCK 2009; Germany Novartis
PreFluCel Seasonal Vero 2010; Austria Baxter
FlucelVax Seasonal MDCK 2012; U.S. Novartis

Never commercially distributed

The first cell-culture based seasonal vaccine in U.S.

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