Oligopeptide-free cell culture media

Abstract

The present invention relates to oligopeptide-free cell culture media comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine and to methods for cultivating cells in said oligopeptide-free cell culture media comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine. The invention also relates to methods for expressing at least one protein in a medium comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine and to methods for producing at least one virus in a medium comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 756,419, filed Jan. 4, 2006, which application is herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to oligopeptide-free cell culture media comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine and to methods for cultivating cells in said oligopeptide-free cell culture media comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine. The invention also relates to methods for expressing at least one protein in a medium comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine and to methods for producing at least one virus in a medium comprising at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] For cultivation of cells, particularly eukaryotic cells, and more specifically mammalian cells, there is a constant need to use special culture media providing nutrient substances that are required for efficient growth of cells and for the production of b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide oligopeptide-free cell culture media. A further object of the present invention is to provide methods for cultivating cells in said media as well as methods for efficient expression of recombinant proteins and / or methods for the efficient production of viruses.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to eliminate animal, plant and / or yeast derived hydrolysates and to provide media which do not comprise any added supplementary proteins or oligopeptides.

[0015] Surprisingly, the addition of at least 0.5 mg / L of a polyamine to cell culture media provides an advantageous effect not only by promoting cell growth but also by increasing the protein and / or virus expression per cell. Said unexpected advantageous effect can be achieved even in oligopeptide-free media.

[0016] Further, the oligopeptide-free medium according to the present invention allows consistent cell growth and increased yield of desired products, particularly of target proteins such as recombinant proteins and / or viruses, independent of the quality or lot variations of any protein hydrolysates. The specific supplementation of cell culture media with a specific concentration of polyamines acts to increase cell growth, cell specific productivity and final cell density.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, bovine serum and products derived thereof bear the risk of BSE contamination.

In addition, all serum-derived products can be contaminated by unknown substances.

When using serum or protein additives derived from human or animal sources in cell culture, there are numerous problems (e.g., the varying quality in composition of different batches and the risk of contamination with mycoplasma, viruses or BSE), particularly if the cells are used in the manufacture of drugs or vaccines for human administration.

The plant and / or yeast hydrolysates, however, are undefined mixtures of oligopeptides and other unknown components and contaminants.

This drawback affects the proliferation of the cells as well as the protein expression of each cell.

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