Abstract: In the art of tissue culture, it has been desired that serum-free culture conditions be found that support the growth and proliferation of hematopoeitic stem cells ex vivo. The present invention discloses a serum-free medium comprised, for example, of pharmaceutical grade components including pasteurized human proteins, that in the presence of the appropriate growth factors, supports the ex vivo maintenance, proliferation and/or differentiation of CD34+/CD38− cells derived from cord blood, mobilized peripheral blood or bone marrow. In conjunction with this effort, the ability of serum-free medium to maintain or cause proliferation of the HSCs ex vivo is assessed by their long-term engraftment in a chimeric sheep animal model.

Abstract: A serum-free medium which supports the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells purified from normal bone marrow, peripheral blood of patients treated with cytokines, and umbilical cord blood is described. The recipe for the formulation is given, which provides a medium suitable for the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells for use in human therapeutic protocols. The cells CD34+ cultured in a the medium of the present invention are used in a method for repopulating human host bone marrow.

Abstract: A serum-free medium which supports the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+cells purified from normal bone marrow, peripheral blood of patients treated with cytokines, and umbilical cord blood is described. The recipe for the formulation is given, which provides a medium suitable for the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+cells for use in human therapeutic protocols.

Abstract: A serum-free medium which supports the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells purified from normal bone marrow, peripheral blood of patients treated with cytokines, and umbilical cord blood is described. The recipe for the formulation is given, which provides a medium suitable for the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells for use in human therapeutic protocols. The cells CD34+ cultured in a the medium of the present invention are used in a method for repopulating human host bone marrow.

Abstract: A serum-free medium which supports the proliferation and differentiation of CD34.sup.+ cells purified from normal bone marrow, peripheral blood of patients treated with cytokines, and umbilical cord blood is described. The recipe for the formulation is given, which provides a medium suitable for the proliferation and differentiation of CD34.sup.+ cells for use in human therapeutic protocols.

Abstract: A serum-free medium which supports the growth and proliferation of bone marrow cells is described. Recipes for two formulations are given, one of which provides a medium suitable for growth of bone marrow cells for use in human therapeutic protocols.

Abstract: A method for assaying the ability of an antibody to neutralize primary clinical isolates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in primary human lymphocytes comprising the steps of contacting primary human lymphocytes with HIV and an antibody sample to be tested, without preincubating the antibody sample and the virus, culturing the primary human lymphocytes under conditions which allow for HIV replication without removal of the virus inoculum or antibody samples to be tested, and measuring HIV replication in the primary human lymphocytes by one or more of several conventional methods.

Abstract: A method for cultivating eukaryotic cells, particularly bone marrow cells, which utilizes a gel system having a gel strength low enough to allow the cells to settle into the gel during cultivation. The gel system is preferably formed from a mixture of methylcellulose and modified agarose. Further, the gel system comprises a soft agar assay and kit for growing the bone marrow cells. The gel is transparent and is present in a single uniform layer with a thickness of 0.5 to 4 mm.

Abstract: A kit and method for cultivating cells, particularly bone marrow cells, which utilizes a gel system having a gel strength low enough to allow the cells to settle into the gel during cultivation. The gel system is preferably formed from a mixture of methylcellulose and modified agarose.