Technique / Cell Biology / Cell culture / Insect cell culture

L particles, composed of the L protein of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen, are candidates for a specific gene and drug delivery system. We previously constructed stably transfected insect cells for L particle production. In this study, the cells were successfully immobilized within porous biomass support particles (BSPs) in shake-flask culture. The immobilized cells showed a high specific productivity, comparable to the maximum productivities in static and shake-flask cultures of nonimmobilized cells.

Effusive, fibrinous pericarditis is an uncommon disease entity in horses. In 2001, pericarditis occurred in conjunction with an epizootic in central Kentucky that was associated with exposure to eastern tent caterpillars (ETCs). Bacterial isolation from equine pericardial fluid samples was attempted using an insect cell culture growth medium (ICCGM). Using previously cultured, stored frozen samples from four horses with fibrinous pericarditis, inoculation of 10% blood agar plates yielded no growth, whereas simultaneous inoculation of ICCGM resulted in the isolation of Proprionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus equorum, a Streptococcus sp. and Pseudomonas rhodesiae from pericardial fluid samples. A similar or novel caterpillar-associated bacteria was not identified; however, use of an ICCGM might enhance isolation of bacteria from equine pericardial fluid.