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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Measuring Influenza Neutralizing Antibody Responses to AH3N2 Viruses in Human Sera by Microneutralization Assays Using MDCK-SIAT1 Cells
Published on: November 22, 2017
Comparison between MDCK and MDCK-SIAT1 cell lines as preferred host for cell culture-based influenza vaccine
Asghar Abdoli1,2, Hoorieh Soleimanjahi1, Abbas Jamali3
1Departments of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Objectives:
To evaluate MDCK and MDCK-SIAT1 cell lines for their ability to produce the yield of influenza virus in different Multiplicities of Infection.
Results:
Yields obtained for influenza virus H1N1 grown in MDCK-SIAT1 cell was almost the same as MDCK; however, H3N2 virus grown in MDCK-SIAT1 had lower viral titers in comparison with MDCK cells. The optimized MOIs to infect the cells on plates and microcarrier were selected 0.01 and 0.1 for H1N1 and 0.001 and 0.01 for H3N2, respectively.
Conclusions:
MDCK-SIAT1 cells may be considered as an alternative mean to manufacture cell-based flu vaccine, especially for the human strains (H1N1), due to its antigenic stability and high titer of influenza virus production.
Insights
MDCK-SIAT1 cells show comparable influenza virus yields to MDCK cells for H1N1 strains. This suggests MDCK-SIAT1 cells are a viable option for cell-based flu vaccine production, particularly for human influenza strains.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Vaccine Development
Background:
- Influenza virus production for vaccines traditionally relies on embryonated eggs.
- Cell-based influenza virus production offers potential advantages in terms of speed, scalability, and reduced risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission.
- Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells are commonly used for influenza virus propagation, but alternative cell lines are being explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the influenza virus yield of MDCK and MDCK-SIAT1 cell lines.
- To determine optimal multiplicities of infection (MOIs) for influenza virus propagation in these cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Influenza virus strains H1N1 and H3N2 were propagated in both MDCK and MDCK-SIAT1 cell lines.
- Viral titers were measured to assess virus yield.
- Different multiplicities of infection (MOIs) were tested to optimize virus production.
Main Results:
- Influenza virus H1N1 yields were similar between MDCK and MDCK-SIAT1 cells.
- H3N2 virus yields were lower in MDCK-SIAT1 cells compared to MDCK cells.
- Optimized MOIs were identified as 0.01 and 0.1 for H1N1, and 0.001 and 0.01 for H3N2, depending on the cell culture format (plates or microcarriers).
Conclusions:
- MDCK-SIAT1 cells demonstrate potential as an alternative for cell-based flu vaccine manufacturing, especially for human influenza strains like H1N1.
- The antigenic stability and high virus production titers in MDCK-SIAT1 cells support their consideration for vaccine production.
