|
Cell Culture Reagents for the Propagation of Respiratory Viruses and the Modeling of Viral Infections
|
Background:
The number of coronavirus COVID-19 infections is rising rapidly (see https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6 for the most current data on infection rates). As for SARS and MERS, it is clear that the coronavirus family is a persistent healthcare concern for which better diagnostic tools, anti-viral drugs and first-line treatments, and vaccines are urgently needed. To develop these medical interventions, the academic and commercial research communities need the reagents to propagate the viruses and model viral infections with human and mammalian cells. The coronaviruses and other respiratory viruses are propagated in a number of ways most notably using cultured human airway epithelial cells. The airway model, in which differentiated airway epithelial cells are cultivated in an air/water interface, is an important in vitro model for investigating a range of lung and tracheobronchial diseases. The in vitro technique has been used by a number of groups to model viral interactions of the airway. The culture media used in these models are:
1993 Tom Iype and colleagues at BRFF (Biological Research Faculty & Facility, Inc.) develop EPM2 for cultivating human esophageal cells (Iype et. al. 1993). EPM2 is a SFM derivative of LHC basal medium. The medium has been optimized and shown to support the growth of human tracheobronchial and lung epithelial cells.
2002 Athena acquired the BRFF line of serum-free culture media products.
2012 Athena began manufacturing and supplying BEGM, ALI and VALI media as well as custom modifications to its biopharmaceutical partners.
2018 Athena increased its production capacity EPM-2, BEGM, ALI and VALI media to supply a larger number of researchers needing the culture media used in the airway models.
Capabilities:
Athena is a primary manufacturer of specialty culture medium. Our proprietary cell culture media products include a series of serum-free media for the cultivation of a range of different cell types along with media designed for SILAC experiments. In addition to producing our own products, we provide custom medium production services. The company specializes in small batch production (5 to 200 liters with expansion to 1,000 liters as needed) and has designed a rapid turnaround manufacturing system that allows us to produce a custom product in under two weeks from receipt of an order. To date, Athena’s manufacturing team has produced 360 different custom culture media formulations.
References:
The number of coronavirus COVID-19 infections is rising rapidly (see https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6 for the most current data on infection rates). As for SARS and MERS, it is clear that the coronavirus family is a persistent healthcare concern for which better diagnostic tools, anti-viral drugs and first-line treatments, and vaccines are urgently needed. To develop these medical interventions, the academic and commercial research communities need the reagents to propagate the viruses and model viral infections with human and mammalian cells. The coronaviruses and other respiratory viruses are propagated in a number of ways most notably using cultured human airway epithelial cells. The airway model, in which differentiated airway epithelial cells are cultivated in an air/water interface, is an important in vitro model for investigating a range of lung and tracheobronchial diseases. The in vitro technique has been used by a number of groups to model viral interactions of the airway. The culture media used in these models are:
- EPM-2 – to cultivate epidermal-like and epithelial cells derived from the esophagus.
- BEGM (bronchial epithelial growth medium) – to cultivate primary and established airway tracheal, bronchial and lung epithelial cells for expansion.
- ALI (air-liquid interface) – to support growth and differentiation of cultured airway epithelial cells when cultivated on porous supports (airway model).
- V-ALI (Vertex-ALI) – modified version of ALI for extended cultivation.
1993 Tom Iype and colleagues at BRFF (Biological Research Faculty & Facility, Inc.) develop EPM2 for cultivating human esophageal cells (Iype et. al. 1993). EPM2 is a SFM derivative of LHC basal medium. The medium has been optimized and shown to support the growth of human tracheobronchial and lung epithelial cells.
2002 Athena acquired the BRFF line of serum-free culture media products.
2012 Athena began manufacturing and supplying BEGM, ALI and VALI media as well as custom modifications to its biopharmaceutical partners.
2018 Athena increased its production capacity EPM-2, BEGM, ALI and VALI media to supply a larger number of researchers needing the culture media used in the airway models.
Capabilities:
Athena is a primary manufacturer of specialty culture medium. Our proprietary cell culture media products include a series of serum-free media for the cultivation of a range of different cell types along with media designed for SILAC experiments. In addition to producing our own products, we provide custom medium production services. The company specializes in small batch production (5 to 200 liters with expansion to 1,000 liters as needed) and has designed a rapid turnaround manufacturing system that allows us to produce a custom product in under two weeks from receipt of an order. To date, Athena’s manufacturing team has produced 360 different custom culture media formulations.
References:
| coronavirus_reference_list.pdf |
Serum-free Media - for the cultivation of airway cells.
|
BRFF-EMP2™
BRFF-EMP2™ is a complete serum-free medium comprised of essential amino acids, vitamins, inorganic salts, trace elements and growth factors optimized for culturing human esophageal epidermal-like and epithelial cell types. EMP2™ has been used for culturing epithelial cells from explant cultures of human skin as well as for culturing a number of human cancer cell lines. Optimal attached monolayer cell growth can be achieved when used in conjunction with FNC Coating Mix®. Ref.: Iype, T. P., Stoner, G. D., Gabriel, B. W. and Kaighn, M. E. 1993. A serum-free medium for human epidermal-like cells. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 29A:94-96.
|