Rhesus diploid rabies vaccine (adsorbed): a new rabies vaccine using FRhL-2 cells

The FRhL-2 cell line, a diploid line derived from the lung of a fetal rhesus monkey, was used to prepare a potent rabies vaccine by adapting the Kissling strain of rabies virus to FRhL-2 cells, growing the virus in quantity, inactivating the virus with beta-propiolactone, and concentrating the virus by adsorption to aluminum phosphate. High levels of antibody to rabies virus, induced by the vaccine in both guinea pigs and humans at 14 days after immunization, were determined to be IgG. Data from postexposure protocols with guinea pigs and simulated postexposure protocols in humans showed protection and antibody response even when rabies immune globulin was administered at the time of vaccination.