Vaccines
Vaccines are medicines which immunize human or animal organisms against diseases. The organism to be protected is repeatedly exposed to small quantities of antigens (vaccines) or antibodies in the form of a serum. This achieves immunity.
Live vaccines
One means is therapy with live vaccines. These are germs with weakened virulence or closely related to pathogenic germs and are therefore antigens, but without the pathogenic effects. They are bred from less pathogenic mutations of virulent germs, which are suitable for the production of vaccines.
Process of vaccine manufacturing
When a suitable virus strain has been chosen, it is isolated in ampoules and stored at -192 °C in liquid nitrogen. Breeding is then conducted starting with the pre-fermenter and continuing in the main fermenter. The fermentation process is supplemented by a nutrient solution. The nutrients are dissolved in the nutrient tank and added to the fermentation process after filtration. The cells are then separated from the surplus by centrifuging. The raw vaccines pass into the mixing vessel, where their immunogenity is increased by the addition of adjuvants, stabilizers and preservatives.
Production of live vaccines
Sera
In serum therapy, the infected organism is supplied with the sera produced with the antibodies of immunized individuals. Sera are gained by multiplying bacteria in a suitable nutrient solution. The serum produced during fermentation is excreted by the cells into the fermentation solution. The serum is isolated by separating the biomass in centrifuges and by further stages of processing in the clarification phase. An aseptic process is essential in the production of vaccines and sera.
Production of sera