Abstract: An improved process for recovery of virus from allantoic fluid of virus-infected chick embryos. Virus associated with granular and fibrous debris in the allantoic fluid can be disassociated from the debris and recovered, thereby increasing viral yield. Dissociation can be achieved by subjecting the virus-debris complex to conditions of increased salt concentrations, e.g., 0.5 M or greater.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medium for cultivating tumor cells, comprising the following constituents, as comprised for example in the medium RPMI 1640: (a) fetal calf serum (FCS), (b) penicillin-streptomycin, (c) L-glutamine, (d) transferrin, (e) insulin, (f) human epidermal growth factor (EGF) and (g) ?-TGF. A method for characterizing tumor cells or potential tumor cells, respectively, is also described. Said method includes the culturing of cells in the inventive medium and the two tumor cell lines LNHOS1 and PTHOS1 established by means of the inventive culturing method.

Abstract: A novel cell culture medium suitable for primary culture of insect cells, an insect-derived water-soluble chitin, and a process of preparing an insect culture cell line in a short period of time by using the insect primary culture medium and the insect-derived water-soluble chitin. The insect cell primary culture medium comprises lactalbumin hydrolysate, yeastolate, and tryptose phosphate broth as protein extracts, and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a viscosity-supplementing agent. The insect-derived water-soluble chitin is subjected to deacetylation as the sole chemical modification.

Abstract: A process of using a fish plasma component as a nutrient medium component for tissue culture includes obtaining blood from a fish that is a progeny of domesticated broodstock that are reared under consistent and reproducible conditions, separating plasma from the blood, and extracting one or more specific components of the plasma. The tissue is cultured using the extracted plasma components, and none of any remainder of the plasma, in a nutrient medium. The tissue cultured using the extracted plasma component is other than fish tissue, such as mammalian tissue or insect tissue.

Abstract: A solid composition containing a meiosis activating substance can be prepared by adding a protein or a phosperglycid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a supplement and a culture media useful for culturing mammalian gametes and embryonic tissue. The culture media comprises at least one of recombinant human albumin, fermented hyaluronan, and citrate. Because the constituents are produced from non-conventional sources, the culture medium is free from contaminants such as viruses, prions and endotoxins. Additionally, because the medium is completely defined, the medium is not subject to variations which can impair the development of mammalian cells and prevent meaningful comparisons of empirical studies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a serum-free supplement which supports the growth of hematopoietic cells in culture. Also provided are a medium comprising a basal medium supplemented with the serum-free supplement of the present invention. The present invention also provides methods for culturing and for differentiating hematopoietic cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a serum-free supplement which supports the growth of hematopoietic cells in culture. Also provided are a medium comprising a basal medium supplemented with the serum-free supplement of the present invention. The present invention also provides methods for culturing and for differentiating hematopoietic cells.

Abstract: Serum free media for growth and proliferation of chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells in culture are provided. A serum free medium for growth of chondrocytes includes a serum free composition comprising FGF-2, linoleic acid, ascorbic acid, B-mercaptoethanol, transferrin and dexamethasone. Further the composition comprises EGF, PDGFbb, insulin and albumin. A method for growing chondrocytes in a serum free medium comprising the composition is also provided. Also provided for mesenchymal stem cell growth, is a serum free medium which includes a composition comprising FGF-2, LIF, SCF, pantotenate, biotin and selenium and method, therefore.

Abstract: A process of using a fish plasma component as a nutrient medium component for tissue culture includes obtaining blood from a fish, separating plasma from the blood, and extracting one or more specific components of the plasma. The tissue is cultured using the extracted plasma components, and none of any remainder of the plasma, in a nutrient medium. The tissue cultured using the extracted plasma component is other than fish tissue, such as mammalian tissue or insect tissue.

Abstract: A culture system for producing PGCs or EG cells by culturing PGCs for long periods in tissue culture is provided. This culture system uses LIF, bFGF, IGF and SCF. The resultant EG cells are useful for the production of transgenic and chimeric avians, in particular, chickens and turkeys, and also for cloning purposes.

Abstract: The invention is a system for maintenance and high-throughput analysis of cerebellar granule neurons in tissue culture plates under chemically defined conditions. The invention includes serum-free granule culture medium, which is composed of high glucose Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Media (DMEM), NaHCO3, sodium pyruvate, and HEPES, which is subsequently adjusted to pH 7.2. The HEPES buffered DMEM is then supplemented with L-glutamine, KCl, bovine albumin, insulin, transferrin, selenium, penicillin, and streptomycin. Unlike proprietary neuronal culture media, this invention does not include any serum, steroid hormones, phenol red, or added anti-oxidants. The serum-free granule culture medium is then placed in conventional poly-lysine coated tissue culture plates in order to conduct subsequent assays. The invention also includes the ability to package the complete neuronal culture system into a “kit” for isolation, maintenance, treatment, and analysis of cerebellar neurons.

Abstract: A chemically defined mammalian cell culture medium is provided that supports maintenance and long term clonal growth of mammalian hepatocytes and other cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a serum-free supplement which supports the growth of embryonic stem cells in culture. Also provided are a medium comprising a basal medium supplemented with the serum-free supplement of the present invention. The present invention also provides methods for culturing and isolating embryonic stems cells, methods for producing a transgenic animal, and methods for expressing recombinant protein in embryonic stem cells and transgenic animals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a culture medium for neurons prepared by adding albumin to a culture supernatant obtained from a culture of primary astroglial cells in a trophic medium supplemented with insulin and transferrin. The culture medium of the present invention makes it possible to culture central nerve cells consistently. When nerve cells are cultured at a low cell density, excellent neurite extension is obtained, and synapses are formed rapidly. On the other hand, when nerve cells are cultured at a high cell density, long-term stability of cells that have formed neuronetworks can be obtained.

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: The present invention provides a supplement and a culture media useful for culturing mammalian gametes and embryonic tissue. The culture media comprises at least one of recombinant human albumin, fermented hyaluronan, and citrate. Because the constituents are produced from non-conventional sources, the culture medium is free from contaminants such as viruses, prions and endotoxins. Additionally, because the medium is completely defined, the medium is not subject to variations which can impair the development of mammalian cells and prevent meaningful comparisons of empirical studies.

Abstract: The present invention describes a serum-free medium that promotes the growth and differentiation of erythroid cells, cells that are highly transducible by a non-viral method and genes which increase the growth of erythroid cells and decrease their dependency on Epo. This invention can be used in the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells to produce cultures of erythroid cells as a source of erythroid-specific proteins such as hemoglobin. Hematopoietic stem cells are cultured ex vivo in a serum-free culture medium with the addition of IL-3, SCF and EPO. Cells transfected with the gene described in the present invention can be cultured in the serum-free culture medium with decreased dependency on Epo and other cytokines, thereby reducing the cost of the production of hemoglobin.

Abstract: An infusible-grade storage medium that is capable of preserving the viability and function of stem cells, nucleated cells and other hematopoietic cells is provided.

Abstract: A method of testing cancer cells is described. Assays are provided for determining the potential for inhibiting cancer cells proliferation using albumin-derived peptides. The methods of the present invention allow for drug screening as well as for evaluation of biopsied tumors.

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: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the consistent and quantitative differentiation of human preadipocytes isolated from adipose tissue into adipocytes bearing biochemical, genetic, and physiological characteristics similar to that observed in isolated primary adipocytes. The methods of the invention comprise incubating isolated human preadipocytes, plated at least about 25,000 cells/cm.sup.2, in a medium containing, glucose, a cyclic AMP inducer such as isobutylmethylxanthine or forskolin, a glucocorticoid or glucocorticoid analogue, insulin or an insulin analogue and a PPAR.gamma. agonist or a RXR agonist. The compositions of the invention include media for the differentiation of human preadipocytes, human adipocytes differentiated by the methods of the invention and transfected adipocytes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the in vitro diagnosis of allergic, in particular also pseudo-allergic, immunological and environment-related disorders using live biopsy tissue samples. Also disclosed is a mobile incubation device for keeping the tissue samples alive and functioning. The samples can be, for example, skin or mucous membrane particles. The biopsy sample (14) once removed from the patient is placed in a temperature-controlled oxygen-containing incubating medium (16) and an allergen is introduced, triggering an immediate reaction (a so-called type 1 allergy). The secretion of immunoglobulin E (IgE) or a mediator is then determined qualitatively and/or quantitatively. Suitable mediators are histamine, tryptase, ECP, MPO, DAO, TPS, interleukins, prostaglandins or cytokines. The proposed mobile incubation device is provided with a temperature-controllable incubator for sample holders inside a housing. The sample containers can be filled with a nutrient solution.

Abstract: A chemically defined mammalian cell culture medium is provided that supports maintenance and long term clonal growth of mammalian hepatocytes and other cells.

Abstract: An infusible-grade storage medium that is capable of preserving the viability and function of stem cells, nucleated cells and other hematopoietic cells is provided.

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: Provided is a medium for culturing normal human epidermal melanocytes in vitro. The medium comprises a basal medium for culturing animal cells, Ca.sup.2+ at a final concentration of between about 0.15 mM and about 1.2 mM and Mg.sup.2+ at a final concentration of 1.2 mM and 6 mM or Ca.sup.2+ at a final concentration of between about 0.9 mM and about 1.2 mM and Mg.sup.2+ at a final concentration between about 0.6 mM and 6.0 mM and 0.001 to 0.1% scrum (v/v). The medium can promote both dendrite formation and proliferation of the cells.

Abstract: A composition and method for maintaining the viability of human mesenchymal precursor cells in a serum-free environment which composition includes (1) a minimum essential medium; (2) serum albumin; (3) an iron source; (4) insulin or an insulin-like growth factor; and (5) at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of glutamine, arginine and and cysteine, and is free of serum. Also, a composition and method for culture expanding human mesenchymal precursor cells in a serum-free environment. This composition further includes a mitogen, paricularly a serotonergic agonist. The cells are preferably isolated human mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic medium with PDGF, vitronectin, IL-1.beta. and BSA added to Eagle's minimum essential medium or medium with transferrin, insulin, progesterone and putrescine further added thereto. When cultivating the postnatal central neurons using the inventive medium, there are effects such that good attachment to substrate, extension of neuritic processes and maintenance of survival are achieved, that more stable sure cultivation becomes possible as well over the astrocyte-conditioned medium used hitherto, and the like.

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: The present invention is directed to a new preservation solution useful for the initial flushing and for the storage of organs intended for transplantation using a warm preservation technology, between 18.degree. C. and 37.degree. C. Among the components of the preservation solution are a basal mammalian cell culture medium comprising one or more serum proteins, growth factors, particularly retinal-derived growth factor mucopolysaccharides, and emulsified liquid fluorocarbons, and cyclodextrin.

Abstract: Animal adhesive cells, particularly human vascular endothelial cells, are cultured in serum-free condition by coating at least one polymer having cell adhesive activity on an inner surface of a culture vessel or surface of a carrier for cell culture, and culturing the cells in the coated vessel or with the coated carrier using a serum-free medium for animal cell culture containing isolated serum albumin, and preferably also transferrin. The polymer is a synthetic polymer modified with a peptide having cell adhesive activity or a natural polymer having cell adhesive activity or a combination thereof. Preferably, the peptide is RGDV, RGDS, RGDN, DGEA or YIGSR and the natural polymer is collagen, gelatin, keratin, fibronectin, vitronectin or laminin. A preferred medium for culturing human vascular endothelial cells is basal medium MCDB 131 or MCDB 107 containing isolated serum albumin, transferrin, hydrocortisone and epithelial growth factor.

Abstract: The invention provides serum-free media for the culture of drosophila insect cells. The serum-free media of the invention comprise a basal medium to which is added yeast hydrolysate, and albumin or dextran. In another embodiment of the invention, albumin hydrolysate is added to the basal medium, in addition to the aforementioned compounds.

Abstract: A live, attenuated varicella zoster virus vaccine is produced with enhanced yield of VZV. The new process makes mass production of a live VZV vaccine more practical. In addition, optimized monoloyer cell culture conditions provide a process for maximizing monolayer cell density which is useful for enhancing viral vaccine production. According to this process, cell densities approaching 500,000 cells/cm.sup.2 are routinely achieved in conventional culture vessels.