Production of Aujeszky vaccine by the microcarrier technology "from the ampoule to the 500 litre fermentor".

A process for the production of Aujeszky vaccine on microcarrier cultures in large fermentors is described. The NLST cells are routinely produced in fermentors of 150 litres; cell density reaches 0.7-0.8 10(6)/ml. The authors describe the method used to obtain those results. The different parameters used in fermentors are discussed and especially pO2 regulation. A study of subculturing method is being carried out to reach a volume of 500 litres. The comparison between stationary culture and microcarrier cultures shows the advantages of such a technique for the viral antigen produced versus infective and the increase of the bulk capacity. This experience also shows that specific development is required for each cell line.