Lohr, V., Rath, A., Genzel, Y., Jordan, I., Sandig, V., & Reichl, U. (2009). New avian suspension cell lines provide production of influenza virus and MVA in serum-free media: studies on growth, metabolism and virus propagation. Vaccine, 27(36), 4975-4982.
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.083.

In this study, two new avian designer cell lines (AGE1.CR and AGE1.CR.pIX) that have been adapted to grow in suspension in serum-free medium were evaluated for their potential as host cells for influenza and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA, wild type) vaccine production. High cell concentrations up to 5.8x10(6)cells/mL were obtained with doubling times of 23h for AGE1.CR and 35h for AGE1.CR.pIX, respectively. Both viruses were produced to high titres (3.5 logHA/100 microL for influenza virus, 3.2x10(8)pfu/mL for MVA). Hence, the CR cell lines are an appropriate substrate for pharmaceutical influenza and MVA production.

The cells were cultured in serum-free adenovirus expression medium (AEM) supplemented with glutamine (4mM final concentration) as specified in the Materials and Methods, under the heading; 2.1. Cells. AEM medium is a commercial product. The precise formulation is proprietary.