Abstract: The present invention provides media and methods for the maintenance or promotion of growth of a cellular line, particularly a hybridoma cellular line. A serum blend is disclosed comprising fetal bovine serum and agamma bovine calf serum. The serum blend is added to other types of support media and can be placed in association with a hybridoma cellular line. The cellular media are preferably employed with hybridoma cellular lines in an environment having a carbon dioxide atmosphere in the range from about ambient levels to 10%, and at a temperature in the range from about 32.degree. C. to 40.degree. C.In addition, the present invention provides for cellular lines maintained and grown in association with such a serum blend. Also, a serum used in a medium for producing diagnostic and therapeutic biologicals from cellular lines, particularly, hybridoma cellular lines, comprising a serum blend of fetal bovine serum and agamma bovine calf serum is provided.

Abstract: A process for preserving a patient's organ for transplantation and cardioplegia during cardiac surgery is disclosed which includes harvesting the patient's organ for transplantation or arresting the heart during cardiac surgery, perfusing the organ or heart with an aqueous solution, and removing at least a substantial portion of the aqueous solution from the organ or heart to effect the removal of waste products from the organ before transplantation or restarting the heart. The aqueous solutions of these inventions promote anaerobic glycolysis, remove waste products from the organ and maintain the energy production capacity of the organ and are preferably comprised of about 50 to 150 millimoles of histidine per liter of the solution, at least one energy providing material for maintaining the energy production capacity of the organ, about 60 to 90 millimoles of Na.sup.+ per liter of the solution, about 10 to 25 millimoles of K.sup.

Abstract: Strains of microorganisms including strains of Cryptococcus are described which have the ability to control postharvest wound or surface fruit pathogens, even at the low temperatures at which fruit is stored. The strains are highly effective in controlling postharvest diseases including mucor rot, blue mold, and gray mold in fruit.

Abstract: A basal serum-free medium and a hematopoietic cell growth and differentiation-promoting serum-free medium based thereon are provided for the maintenance, cultivation, growth and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells, other hematopoietic progenitor cells, and leukemia cells in which the effects of various growth factor compounds can be quantitatively evaluated. Both media are wholly serum-free and contain no intrinsic growth factor compounds. The hematopoietic growth and differentiation medium consists essentially of the basal serum-free medium to which has been added at least one primarily but not exclusively growth-promoting agent selected from heme or hemin, interleukin-3 and recombinant human stem cell factor (and optimally all of them), and at least one primarily but not exclusively cell differentiation -promoting agent selected from erythropoietin (Epo), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and a retinoid (and optimally including all of them).

Abstract: The invention relates to a biomass for producing virus/virus antigen, which consists of cell aggregates having diameters of between 100 .mu.m and 1,000 .mu.m. The biomass according to the invention has a high metabolic activity in suspension in the culture medium and is infected with virus. It enables the large-scale production of pure virus/virus antigen and is particularly suitable for the production of TBE-virus/virus antigen.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for killing or inhibiting the growth of yeast or sporular microorganisms by contacting the microorganisms, in the presence of a peroxide and chloride or bromide, with a haloperoxidase and at least one antimicrobial activity enhancing agent. Suitable antimicrobial activity enhancing agents include certain .alpha.-amino acids, and are preferably compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, an unsubstituted, or hydroxy or amino substituted, straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an unsubstituted, or hydroxy or amino substituted arylalky group having from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of reducing the loss of differentiative functions of cells cultured in culture medium containing serum which includes an inhibitor of cellular differentiation. The method includes treating the serum or serum-containing medium to remove or inactivate the inhibitor.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an organ equivalent of the cornea part of the eye made using tissue culturing systems. The method of constructing the cornea equivalent results in a structure analogous to the eye cornea in vivo. The cornea equivalent is an in vitro model of the eye, which can be used for transplantation or implantation in vivo or for screening compounds in vitro.

Abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are treated to deplete monocytes and the remaining cells are cultured in a medium containing interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Nonadherent cells are removed and discarded, and adherent cells are further cultured in a medium of IL-2 and IL-4 which expands the CD4+ T cells population of the PBMC. The expanded, enriched CD4+T cells can be placed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and administered to a mammal with IL-2 to treat a tumor.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods, apparatus and solutions for cryopreserving microscopic biological materials for biologically extended periods of time. The method comprises treating a suspension of biological material, in an appropriate buffer, with a cryoprotectant or combination of cryoprotectants which raises the glass transition temperature range of the sample. One or more dry protectants may be added to the cryosolution. The cryosolution is then nebulized and rapidly cooled with novel apparatus, dried by molecular distillation, stored and then rehydrated in a buffer prior to its use. The solutions comprise novel mixtures of cryoprotectants.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the fermentation by yeast of sugar to alcohol wherein a portion of the nutrient phosphate is provided by one or more condensed phosphates. It has been found that when condensed phosphates are employed as the nutrient source the fermentation rate increases. In addition, the rate increase is only observed when an increase in macronutrient elements is provided in conjunction with the condensed phosphates to compensate for the elements sequestered by the condensed phosphates.

Abstract: A culture medium, a technique for the culture of adult diploid cells from brain and meningeal tissue, explanted diploid cells from brain tissue having neuronal antigenic markers, and the use of cultured diploid cells from brain tissue having neuronal antigenic markers for the screening of neuroactive compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) which contain a toxin(s) which is active against nematodes. This B.t. toxin(s) or B.t. isolate(s) can be used to treat animals and plants hosting susceptible nematodes.

Abstract: A method of producing undifferentiated avian cells expressing an embryonic stem cell phenotype is disclosed. The method comprises collecting avian cells from an avian blastoderm prior to formation of the primitive streak, then depositing the avian cells in contact with a mouse fibroblast feeder cell layer, and then growing the avian cells on the mouse fibroblast feeder cell layer in the presence of a media containing leukemia inhibitory factor in a differentiation-inhibiting amount for a time sufficient to produce a sustained avian cell culture. Cell cultures produced by the aforesaid process and veterinary pharmaceutical formulations containing such cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an adventive embryo of a plant belonging to the genus Podophyllum, comprising the steps of preparing cells of a plant belonging to the genus Podophyllum, incubating the cells in a sugar free medium or a medium containing up to 2% by weight sugar, and then incubating the cells in a medium containing more than 2% by weight of sugar to generate an adventive embryo; a process for the production of a podophyllotoxin compound comprising the steps of preparing an adventive embryo of a plant belonging to the genus Podophyllum, culturing the adventive embryo to generate an adventitious organ, culturing the adventitious organ to produce a podophyllotoxin compound, and recovering the podophyllotoxin compound; and a process for the production of a podophyllotoxin compound, comprising the steps of preparing de-differentiated cells or tissue of a plant belonging to the genus Podophyllum culturing the de-differentiated cells or tissue in a liquid medium to generate a differentiated organ, cu

Abstract: A method for processing and preserving an acellular collagen-based tissue matrix for transplantation is disclosed. The method includes the steps of processing biological tissues with a stabilizing solution to reduce procurement damage, treatment with a processing solution to remove cells, treatment with a cryoprotectant solution followed by freezing, drying, storage and rehydration under conditions that preclude functionally significant damage and reconstitution with viable cells.

Abstract: The present invention involves a readily produced skin autograft or silograft composite suitable for the supplementation or replacement of injured skin. A sheet of collagen-coated pliable material such as synthetic surgical dressing is used as a foundation for the skin autograft composite. The synthetic surgical dressing, if not precoated with collagen, may be placed in a container and coated with collagen. Epidermal cells, preferably obtained from a prospective recipient of the skin autograft composite being produced, are cultured in an appropriate medium substantially preventing cell differentiation to form epidermal cells on the surface of a collagen-coated container. When substantially confluent, the epidermal cells are enzymatically detached from the culture vessel and layered upon a collagen coated desiccated surgical dressing infused with low calcium culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a serum-free medium for culturing animal cells characterized in that it comprises 8.0-14.0 mg/l of methionine. Although a wide variety of animal cells can effectively be cultured by means of the serum-free medium according to the present invention, said serum-free medium produces an excellent growth effect for culturing animal epithelial cells in particular.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of inflammation and arthritis using protease nexin-I as an active ingredient are disclosed.

Abstract: Fibroblast growth in a healing wound, and the consequent formation of scar tissue, may be inhibited by application of a macrophage monokine product, the macrophage monokine having a molecular weight of no more than about 10,000 Dalton. The macrophage monokine appears to be generally effective across species of mammals, and also exhibits the characteristic of stimulating hair growth on skin cells to which it is applied.