Removal of small nonenveloped viruses by antibody-enhanced nanofiltration during the manufacture of plasma derivatives.

Background: Filters with nominal pore sizes in the nanometer range are well-established tools for enhancing the virus safety margins of plasma-derived products, yet intrinsically less successful for smaller viruses such as hepatitis A virus (HAV) and human parvovirus B19 (B19V). The formation of virus-antibody complexes increases the effective size of these smaller viruses and would thus improve their removal by nanofiltration. While the principle of virus removal by antibody-dependent nanofiltration has been demonstrated with animal antisera and viruses spiked into human plasma product intermediates, the significance of these results remains unclear due to the potential contributions of xenoanti-bodies and/or heteroagglutination in such heterologous systems.

Stuttering or reflex seizure? A case report.

Stuttering is characterized by involuntary syllabic repetitions and interruption in the smooth flow of speech. The exact cause of primary stuttering remains a matter of debate but a frontal dysfunction has been evoked. On the other hand, acquired stuttering is uncommon.

Selective retention of viable cells in ultrasonic resonance field devices.

A double-chamber ultrasonic resonance field device was used for the separation and retention of animal cells. By controlling operational parameters such as flow and power input, the device can retain viable cells more efficiently, allowing for selective removal of nonviable cells and cell debris. A simple model describing the forces acting on spherical particles in a sound field (primary radiation force, Bernoulli force, secondary radiation force) is presented.

A novel ultrasonic resonance field device for the retention of animal cells.

This article describes two types of flow-through cell retention devices based on the concept of layered piezoelectric resonators. A single-chamber device is compared to a novel optimized steam-sterilizable prototype ultrasonic cell separator with improved acoustic design and an integrated cooling circuit, eliminating the problem of local temperature increase caused by the high amplitudes necessary to achieve the separation of animal cells with low acoustic contrast. This setup yields highly reproducible results and is ideal for studying the long-term effects of ultrasonic sound fields and separation efficiency.

Stable, continuous large-scale production of human monoclonal HIV-1 antibody using a computer-controlled pilot plant.

A completely automated pilot plant used for fermentation has been employed with direct digital control (DDC) technology for monitoring and regulating growth of human cells. A human hybridoma cell line (3D6) producing anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 antibodies was used as a model for large-scale production (300-liter airlift fermentor) in continuous culture. Parameters controlled were pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and the flow rate of four gases used in the process.