Abstract: The invention comprises a lyophilized live herpes virus vaccine that comprises from about 0.5% to about 8% moisture.

Abstract: A quantitative assay for HAV comprises infecting at a temperature of from about 30.degree. to about 37.degree. C. a cell sheet with a dilution series of hepatitis A virus and then adding Newcastle disease virus (NDV) to the infected cell sheet and incubating the infected cell sheet in the presence of NDV at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to permit a cytopathic effect (CPE) to become manifest, this time typically being at least about 4 days and preferably about 5 days. At an incubation temperature of from about 31.degree. to about 33.degree. C. the absence of CPE indicates the presence of HAV and the presence of CPE indicates the absence of HAV. At an incubation temperature of from about 34.degree. to about 36.degree. C. the absence of CPE indicates the absence of HAV and the presence of CPE indicates the presence of HAV.

Abstract: Hepatitus A virus is grown in Vero cells after passage in in vitro cell culture. Virus replication and continued passage in Vero cells requires extended incubation times, up to about four weeks, for early passages and incubation temperatures no higher than about 32.degree. C. Continued passage results in a significant decrease in incubation time and an increase in virus yield. Cultivation of hepatitus A virus in Vero cells meets the development requirements for an inactivated human vaccine.

Abstract: Recombinant pre-S-HBsAg is purified by a rapid and efficient two step chromatographic process. Yeast cells expressing recobinant pre-S-HBsAg are disrupted, the cell contents are clarified and separated by polymerized human serum albumin affinity chromatography. The pre-S-HBsAg is further purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography using butyl agarose. This process results in pre-S-HBsAg that is greater than 90% pure.

Abstract: The surface antigen protein of human Hepatitis B virus is synthesized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a 23,000-26,000 dalton polypeptide, essentially free of intermolecular disulfide bonds. This antigen is a poor immunogen in animals and man. No prior precedent or method exists for efficiently converting the non-disulfide bonded antigen to a fully intermolecular disulfide bonded particle. We describe the first example of such a conversion in vitro and show that the act of this conversion enhances the immunogenicity of the antigen about 10-fold. The in vitro conversion makes practical the production of hepatitis B surface antigen from microorganisms using recombinant DNA methods.

Abstract: HBcAb in a biological fluid is adsorbed on a surface which is then coated with BSA. The coated surface is then incubated first in the sample and then in the presence of radiolabelled HBcAb.

Abstract: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is produced in vitro in high titer and purity from tissue cultures of cells that shed HBsAg. The cells are grown on hollow fiber capillary units having a molecular weight cut-off of about 10,000.

Abstract: Hepatitis A virus is harvested from persistently infected cells, the cells are then trypsinized, replanted and a second harvest of hepatitis A virus is obtained. The cells can be trypsinized and replanted and harvested indefinitely.

Abstract: A diagnostic reagent for hepatitis A antibody is prepared by adhering hepatitis A antibody to a surface by non-specific adsorption followed by specific coupling of hepatitis A antigen to the antibody. This reagent is useful in an in vitro assay for hepatitis A antibody.

Abstract: An improved stabilized liquid live viral vaccine contains a live virus, partially hydrolyzed gelatin, a monosaccharide or disaccharide, a cell culture medium, L-glutamic acid, L-arginine and sufficient physiologically acceptable acidic buffer to maintain the pH at from about 6.0 to about 6.5.

Abstract: An improved stabilized liquid live viral vaccine contains a live virus, partially hydrolyzed gelatin, a monosaccharide or disaccharide, a cell culture medium, L-glutamic acid, L-arginine and sufficient physiologically acceptable acidic buffer to maintain the pH at from about 6.0 to about 6.5.

Abstract: Semi-automated assays for viral infectivity and an assay for serum neutralizing antibody content are based on staining the cells and macroscopic reading of the cytopathic effect.

Abstract: A method for determining the end point in a viral assay comprisingelectronically scanning a microtiter plate to obtain a plurality of data points from each well,transmitting the data points to a digital computer programed to analyze the data points from each well to determine whether each well is positive or negative for CPE in accordance with predetermined parameters, andcalculating the viral titer from the positive or negative results for each well.

Abstract: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is produced in high titer from tissue cultures grown on a hollow fiber capillary unit.

Abstract: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HB.sub.s Ag) is produced in vitro in high titer and purity from tissue cultures of cells that shed HB.sub.s Ag by growing the cells with a first incubation at elevated temperature followed by a second incubation at a lower elevated temperature.

Abstract: An immune adherence hemagglutination assay for detection of hepatitis A antigen or antibody. Plasma having known high titer of hepatitis A antibody, and gamma globulin having known high titer of hepatitis A antibody.

Abstract: Liquid containing hepatitis A antibody is adsorbed on a surface. The surface is then coated with a proteinaceous material and incubated in the presence of the sample to form a complex of hepatitis A antigen and hepatitis A antibody. The complex is incubated again in the presence of excess radioactively labelled hepatitis A antibody, and the resulting radionuclide is measured.

Abstract: Automated tests to evaluate the antibody titer of a sample by incubating a test sample, bacteria, and complement, and detecting bacterial growth in the incubated mixture, and to identify bacteria and its titer in a sample by incubating a test sample, bacterial antiserum, and complement, and detecting inhibition of bacterial growth in the incubated mixture. The automated tests lend themselves to diagnostic use and may be provided in the form of diagnostic test kits.

Abstract: Lyophilization time of live viral compositions is reduced and output per lyophilization unit is increased by lyophilizing a reduced volume of a more concentrated viral composition.