Vaccine production: serum reduction in Vero cells
Plant peptone supplementation to cut fetal bovine serum use
THE SITUATION AND THE PAIN POINTS
Vero cells are the most widely used production cells for human and veterinary vaccines and are traditionally grown in 10% fetal bovine serum. Serum is expensive, variable between batches and raises animal-origin and adventitious-agent concerns, and downstream purification must remove serum proteins.
OUR APPROACH
A public study by Inserm and Organotechnie grew Vero cells in 5% serum plus 0.5 g per litre peptone and matched or exceeded proliferation in 10% serum, halving serum use; casein, wheat and soy sources all worked, with ultrafiltered wheat W106 performing best. We supply the C-Cell cell-culture range and Tryptone N1 to match your cells and process.
- Published study: proliferation maintained when serum drops from 10% to 5%
- Low dose for adherent cells, 0.25 to 1 g per litre
- Less serum protein to remove downstream
- Estimate annual serum savings with the calculator
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Frequently asked questions
01What dose?
The published study used 0.5 g per litre (0.05%). Too high a dose may not help adherent cells, so trial 0.25, 0.5 and 1 g/L.
02Can it go fully serum-free?
Published data show serum can be halved; fully serum-free culture usually needs an optimised basal medium and cell adaptation, so reduce in stages.