GB899011A - Rubeola vaccine and process - Google Patents

Abstract

A rubeola (measles) virus vaccine is produced by growing measles virus on monkey (i.e. any primate except man or lemurs) renal cell cultures, harvesting the live virus therefrom in a parenterally acceptable vehicle and destroying the infective capacity of the virus. The preferred cell culture is that of renal cells from African vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus lalandi). Those from rhesus, cynomolgus and squirrel monkeys and those of simians, e.g. chimpanzee and baboons, may be used if substantially free from competitive latent viruses. Propogation is by any well known tissue culture technique, e.g. Maitland minced tissue method, submerged culture of suspended cells or cultures of cells grown on glass (preferred). Any complete tissue culture nutrient medium may be used, e.g. "medium 199," Eagles medium, medium NCTC 107 which may advantageously include about 5% to 10% of a filtered mamalian serum, e.g. calf serum (preferred). The medium may also contain agents to prevent bacterial or mycotic growth, e.g. penicillin, streptomycin, mycostatin, parabens. The cultures are incubated at about 25 DEG to 40 DEG C. (preferably 32 DEG to 38 DEG C.) for about 5 to 12 days and the virus is then harvested in a parenterally acceptable medium, e.g. those mentioned above, one of, these being used to replace the growth medium if unsuitable (e.g. contains mammalian serum). Cellular debris is removed by centrifugation and the virus is inactivated by conventional means, e.g. by chemicals, e.g. formaldehyde, b -propiolactone, mustard oils or chlorine or by forms of physical energy, e.g. heat (45 DEG C. for 30 hours or 25 DEG C. for 200 hours), ultra-violet radiation, ionizing radiations (preferred), e.g. a -rays, cathode-rays, b -rays, g -rays or protons, the virus being present in variable conditions, e.g. in liquid or frozen suspensions, as a lyophilised powder in bulk or in sealed containers, e.g. of glass or low density polythene. Preservatives, e.g. benzethenium chloride, parabens or "Merthiolate" (Registered Trade Mark) may be added to the final vaccine.