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Background and Aims: Rubella is predominantly a childhood disease that is endemic throughout the world and when rubella outbreaks occur, they are accompanied by birth defects following congenital rubella syndrome. Immunity to rubella virus as a teratogenic agent has an important role for prevention of these serious congenital defects. Lymphocyte proliferation assay is a way for investigation of human cell-immunity and its ability against rubella infection. Materials and Methods: The blood samples were obtained in sodium heparin tubes. Ficoll was added to separate lymphocytes. The cells were cultured with RPMI 1640 medium with 15% calf serum in microplates and incubating at 37°C in 3-5% CO2. Mitogens including Phytohemagglutinin and rubella hemagglutinin antigen (derived Takahashi strain) were added, separately. Then a fluorescent nucleotide was added. On day 10th-11th the wells stained and observed. Results: Lymphocytes stimulated with the mitogens were observed directly with an inverted microscope. Their aggregation and growth were detected after two days. Also lymph proliferation was shown using labeled nucleotide comprising a new fluorophore, by fluorescent microscopy. Response to full particle of attenuated virus was better than antigens derived from different parts of the virus. Conclusion: Comparison of the data with previous studies on proliferation of specific lymphocytes in response to rubella vaccination confirms our results. Thus cell-immunity to rubella infection was activated timely, in individuals who were vaccinated against rubella virus approximately 10 years before or exposed to it, but the intensity of responses to different antigens varied in each subject.

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Background and Aims: Rubella is a contagious viral disease mostly with mild clinical symptoms and often remains undiagnosed. Rubella infection may adversely affect pregnancy, especially in the first trimester and this mother to child transmission can cause congenital rubella and may be lead to permanent disability and mortality in children. Effective rubella vaccine should be prepared using suitable stabilizers. New stabilizers should be selected carefully in the manners that final product meet all requirements of stability, immunogenicity and safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of rubella vaccines that are formulated using two different new stabilizers in comparison to a commonly used vaccine that gelatin is used in it as a stabilizer. Materials and Methods: 28 guinea pigs were prospectively divided into four groups (one control and three test groups) according to the materials that they were subjected to receive, including the vaccines that formulated with hydrolyzed gelatin (G), Sorbitol (S) and Trehalose dehydrate (T) stabilizers. Control group was received sterile water for injection (WFI). Anti-rubella antibodies in the sera were measured using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) technique. The results were analyzed by Generalized Estimating equations (GEE) statistical test. Results: Our results showed that all three formulated vaccines (G, S and T) induced seroconversion in guinea pigs however the vaccine that contained Trehalose dehydrate (T) induced a slightly higher level of antibody against rubella virus (p<0.01). Conclusion: As an important part of final bulk of rubella vaccines, stabilizers are continuously studied to achieve safer, more stable and more effective vaccines. In this study, the immunogenicity of newly formulated rubella vaccines (T&S) was comparable to the vaccines which formulated with routine stabilizer (G).

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Background and Aims: During the last years a new Foreskin cell line strain (RFSC) has been isolated, characterized and stored in a representative cell bank stock in liquid nitrogen as a part of HCB (Human Cell Bank) development program in Razi institute. Materials and Methods: The cell population was serially passaged for mass production purpose based on WHO schedule .The controls on pool samples were carried out upon our sampling method and international recommendations. Results: The data concerning parameters as well as the result of compulsory controls on Kario logy oncogenicity, cross contaminations, species specificity, no oncogenicity, and mycoplasma free of a human cell line that contained heteroploid chromosomal characterizations are performed. Conclusion: Kariological examination found an obvious discrepancy in the frequency of aberrations due to high passage level that produced a heteroploid continuous cell line. Virus susceptibility shows RFSC-1 more sensitive to RS#12 Mumps virus strain. This cell line is completely sterile and has no any cross contamination to other pathogen and can be used for production and control of Mumps vaccine.