Abstract: A safer live smallpox vaccine, which contains a lowered content of revertants, is provided. A process for manufacturing a live smallpox vaccine which comprises steps of: inoculating a master seed solution of an attenuated vaccinia virus to an appropriate number of containers (1 to n wherein n is an integer) of rabbit kidney cells and incubating them; inoculating a portion of the cultured solution obtained from each container to RK-13 cells and to Vero E6 cells and incubating them to thereby select containers which contain a cultured solution that forms plaques in RK-13 cells but not in Vero E6 cells; and preparing a drug substance of vaccine using the aforementioned cultured solution (working seed solution), and a live smallpox vaccine prepared in the aforementioned process.

Abstract: A safer live smallpox vaccine, which contains a lowered content of revertants, is provided. A process for manufacturing a live smallpox vaccine which comprises steps of: inoculating a master seed solution of an attenuated vaccinia virus to an appropriate number of containers (1 to n wherein n is an integer) of rabbit kidney cells and incubating them; inoculating a portion of the cultured solution obtained from each container to RK-13 cells and to Vero E6 cells and incubating them to thereby select containers which contain a cultured solution that forms plaques in RK-13 cells but not in Vero E6 cells; and preparing a drug substance of vaccine using the aforementioned cultured solution (working seed solution), and a live smallpox vaccine prepared in the aforementioned process.

Abstract: Novel muramyldipeptide derivatives such as [6-0-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-N-acetylmuramoyl]-L-alanyl-D-glutamamide and [6-0-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-N-acetylmuramoyl]-L-alanyl-N -methyl-D-glutamamide are provided. The muramyldipeptide derivatives are excellent compound as an adjuvant or a constituting component of virosome vaccine. An influenza vaccine comprises a complex of the muramyldipeptide derivative and an influenza virus antigen. The influenza vaccine has excellent antibody-producing capacity and safety.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel influenza vaccine comprising a complex of HANA antigen and an MDP derivative.The novel vaccine is prepared by mixing an influenza HANA antigen and at least one MDP derivative in a suitable medium; solubilizing the resulting mixture with a surface active agent capable of being removed by dialysis, the solubilization being conducted in the presence or absence of cholesterol, lecithin and dicetyl phosphate or a mixture thereof; and then removing the surface active agent therefrom by dialysis to obtain an influenza vaccine comprising artificial vesicle-like particles of a complex of HANA antigen and MDP derivative, where the MDP derivative forms a membrane of the particle (corresponding to the lipid membrane of natural influenza virus particle) on the surface of which there exists the HANA antigen being bonded to the MDP derivative so as to form the complex.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the purification of rabic virus, which comprises subjecting a solution containing the rabic virus to column chromatography using, as a gel for chromatography, a sulfuric acid ester of cellulose or a crosslinked polysaccharide. The method can provide highly purified rabic virus which is useful for obtaining an effective vaccine against rabies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the purification of an influenza virus, which comprises subjecting a solution containing the influenza virus to column chromatography using, as a gel for chromatography, a sulfuric acid ester of cellulose or a crosslinked polysaccharide. The method can provide highly purified influenza virus which is useful for obtaining an effective vaccine against influenza.