preprints.org > biology and life sciences > virology > doi: 10.20944/preprints202409.1845.v1

Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 23 September 2024 / Approved: 23 September 2024 / Online: 24 September 2024 (04:49:03 CEST)

Oncolytic measles virus (MeV) is a promising anti-cancer treatment. However, the production of high titers of infectious MeV (typically 10⁷–10⁹ TCID₅₀ per dose) is challenging because the virus is unstable under typical production conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate how the multiplicity of infection (MOI) and different media – serum-containing (SCM), serum-free (SFM) and chemically-defined (CDM) – affect MeV production. We infected Vero cells at MOIs of 0.02, 0.2 or 2 TCID₅₀ mL^-1 and the lowest MOI resulted in the largest number of infected cells towards the end of the production period. However, this did not equate to higher maximum MeV titers, which were similar for all MOIs. The medium had a moderate effect, generating maximum titers of 0.89–2.17 × 10⁶, 1.08–1.25 × 10⁶ and 4.58–9.90 × 10⁵ TCID₅₀ mL^‑1 for SCM, SFM and CDM, respectively. Infection at a low MOI often required longer process times to reach maximum yields. Our findings show that SCM, SFM and CDM are equally suitable for MeV production in terms of yield and process time. This will allow MeV production in serum-free conditions, addressing the safety risks and ethical concerns associated with the use of serum.

multiplicity of infection (MOI); media adaption; chemically-defined medium (CDM); serum-free medium (SFM); viral vaccines; vectors; virus-like particles (VLPs); cell culture research; process development

Biology and Life Sciences, Virology

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