Abstract: A compartmentalized cell culture bag comprising a cell culture compartment defined by lower gas permeable film and an upper membrane selectively permeable to compounds of selected sizes. Culture medium resides between the upper membrane and the lower gas permeable film. A basal medium compartment is located above the upper membrane and allows basal medium to reside upon the upper membrane. Each compartment contains an access port. A gas film support below and in partial contact with the gas permeable film holds the gas permeable film in a substantially horizontal position so that suspension or adherent cells can distribute across the surface of the gas permeable film.

Abstract: A cell culture device comprising a container having a plurality of wells. Each well includes a cell culture compartment defined by a lower gas permeable film and an upper sheet selectively permeable to compounds of selected sizes. The device allows culture medium to reside between the upper sheet and the lower gas permeable film. A basal medium compartment is located above the upper sheet and allows basal medium to reside upon the upper sheet. Each compartment contains an access port. A gas film support below and in partial contact with the gas permeable film holds the gas permeable film in a substantially horizontal position so that suspension or adherent cells can distribute across the surface of the gas permeable film.

Abstract: A cell culture device comprising a container having a cell culture compartment defined by a lower gas permeable film and an upper sheet selectively permeable to compounds of selected sizes. The device is adapted to allow culture medium to reside between the upper sheet and the lower gas permeable film. A basal medium compartment is located above the upper sheet and is adapted to allow basal medium to reside upon the upper sheet. Each compartment contains an access port. A gas film support below and in partial contact with the gas permeable film holds the gas permeable film in a substantially horizontal position so that suspension or adherent cells can distribute across the surface of the gas permeable film.

Abstract: A two piece co-culture device having receptacles for containing fluid on two sides of a porous membrane includes an insert with a passageway therethrough with a longitudinal axis. The insert has a first end, a second end and a sidewall, the second end has an outside diameter and a porous membrane with a first side and a second side bonded thereover substantially perpendicular to the axis. The membrane closes the second end of the insert forming a a first receptacle for containing fluid on the first side of the porous membrane within the insert that is open to the first end. The first end has a flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the sidewall substantially perpendicular to the axis for suspending the insert in a well. The device also includes an adapter for forming a second receptacle for containing fluid on the second side of the porous membrane. The adapter has an open end, an insert end and a passage with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for screening agents for potential anti-viral effects by assessing the ability of the agents to suppress viral replication and/or pathology in thymic cells grown in thymic organ culture in vitro. Also provided are methods to study viral pathology and infectivity.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for generating a functional hybrid bioprosthesis. Tissue formed naturally of interstitial collagens is treated to kill native cells and remove potentially immunologically active soluble molecules. Then it may be treated sequentially with extracellular matrix adhesion factor, extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan, and growth factor appropriate to the cell type required to function within the matrix, and incubating the transplant tissue matrix with cells that are either allogeneic or autologous for the recipient thereby imparting to the matrix the characteristics of the cell type and tissue selected. Tissues with a variety of functional bioactivities can thus be formed in vitro prior to graft transplantation or implantation which will exhibit reduced or no stimulation of an immunological response in the recipient.

Abstract: An anionic macromolecular containing composition is disclosed that is capable of supporting conservation and differentiation of long-term bone marrow culture initiating cells in cultured mammalian hematopoietic cells. The composition disclosed is a mixture of glycoproteins, more specifically proteoglycans, which are of a molecular weight greater than 200 kD.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and devices are provided for the growth of hematopoietic cells in culture. Bioreactors are provided in which diverse cell types are simultaneously cultured in the presence of appropriate levels of nutrients and growth factors substantially continuously maintained in the bioreactor while removing undesirable metabolic products. This simultaneous culture of multiple cell types is required for the successful reconstruction of hematopoietic tissue ex vivo. At least one growth factor is provided through excretion by transfected stromal cells, particularly heterologous cells. Means are provided for maintaining the stromal cells and hematopoietic cells separately, to allow for early removal of the hematopoietic cells.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for growing cell cultures consisting of a plurality of layers includes a chamber for submerging cells in a medium while supporting and binding them to a semi-permeable membrane. A stirrer is positioned within the chamber and continuously stirs the medium to constantly circulate it past the exposed surface of a semi-permeable membrane on one side of the cell culture and along the exposed surface of the cell culture growing on the membrane and remote from the membrane to transfer nutrients to both surfaces of the cell either directly or through the membrane without disrupting the cell culture on the membrane.

Abstract: The substrate for cell culture to be used for cell arrangements is formed by applying a photoresist on a surface of a substrate, removing selective parts of the photoresist on the surface of the substrate by optical exposure and development, and forming an immobilized enzyme membrane on the surface of the substrate after removing the photoresist, and removing the photoresist after forming the immobilized enzyme membrane. An enzyme substrate of enzyme contained in the immobilized enzyme membrane is a material that is necessary for growth of cells for forming cell arrangements or is a material that inhibits growth of such cells, and a reaction product of oxygen contained in the immobilized enzyme membrane is a material that is necessary for growth of cells for forming cell arrangements or a material that inhibits growth of such cells. It is possible to control the cell adhesion on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: High protein content feed or synthetic steroides are used to elevate the efficiency of feed and promote pig growth. However, the steroids are not metabolized quickly but remain in the body for a long time and may have a detrimental influence on humans. The invention relates to a method for the production of porcine growth hormone which improves the growth of pigs and the efficiency of feed using a synthetic gene in yeast cells. It has been found that porcine growth hormone may be produced economically and in bulk in yeast by gene manipulation technology.