With the rapid development of biotechnology, the research and development of new vaccines has become a hot topic in the field of global public health. In this process, fetal bovine serum (FBS) plays an irreplaceable role as an important cell culture matrix. This article will explore the specific application of fetal bovine serum in the development of new vaccines and its importance.
Basic characteristics of fetal bovine serum
Fetal bovine serum is serum separated from the blood collected from the heart or umbilical vein of unborn fetal cows. It is rich in a variety of nutrients necessary for cell growth, such as proteins, growth factors, vitamins and minerals, and can provide an ideal growth environment for cells. In addition, since the fetus has not yet been exposed to the external environment, the antibody and complement content in the serum is low, reducing the potential toxicity to cells.
Application in the development of new vaccines
Selection and cultivation of cell lines
In the early stages of vaccine development, selecting a suitable cell line for virus amplification is a very critical step. Different viruses require different host cells to complete replication. For example, influenza viruses are usually cultured in chicken embryo cells, while many new viruses are more suitable for culture in mammalian cells. Fetal bovine serum can provide the nutrients required by these cells, promote healthy growth and high-density culture of cells, and thus increase virus production.
Production of viral vectors
Many new vaccines use viral vector technology, such as adenovirus vector vaccines and lentivirus vector vaccines. These vectors need to be amplified in large quantities in specific cell lines. Fetal bovine serum can significantly improve the production efficiency of viral vectors and ensure high titer and purity of vectors, which is crucial for subsequent vaccine preparation.
Cell therapy and gene editing
In addition to traditional vaccines, modern biotechnology has developed many new vaccines based on cell therapy and gene editing. These technologies also require high-quality cell culture conditions. Fetal bovine serum can support the smooth progress of these complex cell operations and ensure the stability and functional integrity of cells.
Case study
mRNA vaccine
mRNA vaccine is a major breakthrough in recent years, such as the new crown vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Although mRNA vaccines do not require live viruses, a large amount of cell culture is still required to synthesize mRNA during the production process. Fetal bovine serum provides the necessary nutrition and support in this cell culture, ensuring the efficient production and purification of mRNA.
Adenovirus vector vaccine
Adenovirus vector vaccines (such as AstraZeneca's new crown vaccine) require a large number of adenovirus vectors to be amplified in the HEK293 cell line. These cells have high requirements for culture conditions, and fetal bovine serum can provide the best growth environment to ensure high yield and high quality of viral vectors.
Quality and Safety
In the development of new vaccines, it is crucial to ensure the safety and quality of all raw materials. High-quality fetal bovine serum not only needs to pass strict aseptic processing and quality testing, but also needs to come from disease-free areas and pastures without animal-derived feed to avoid any potential risks.
Conclusion
The application of fetal bovine serum in the development of new vaccines demonstrates its unique value in the field of biopharmaceuticals. Whether it is a traditional inactivated vaccine or a new vaccine based on modern biotechnology, high-quality fetal bovine serum is a key factor in ensuring vaccine quality and production efficiency. In the future, with the continuous advancement of biotechnology, fetal bovine serum will continue to play an important role in the development of new vaccines.