Laboratory of Cell Cultures

Main activities

• Development and continuous maintenance of the “Collection of human and animal cell lines for virological research”, part of the Russian Collection of Cell Cultures and the European Collection of Cell Cultures
• Expansion of the Collection with cell lines displaying potential for use in diagnostic and biomedical technologies
• Development of sample documentation and improvement of cell collection materials in accordance with the quality requirements adopted by the International Federation of Culture Collections
• Documentation of specific cell lines, including: description of cultivation and cryostorage conditions; determination of cell viability, morphology, and microbiological control measures; species identification; and other important characteristics
• Continuous improvement of work with cell culture collections on the basis of scientific research regarding influences on the genetic variability of cell lines, such as culture conditions, cryostorage procedures, and contamination
• Provision of cell cultures to the research and development divisions of the Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza and to *Federal Centre for Influenza and Acute Respiratory Viral Infections support bases located in 60 cities throughout all the Russian federal districts  *(in accordance with Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing order 373 of March 31, 2005)
• Study of the transfection efficiency and toxicity of non-viral vectors based on synthetic polycations for the transfer of DNA and siRNA into cells
• Isolation of mature dendritic cell populations and other immunocompetent cell types in order create vaccines based on them

The Laboratory of Cell culture is a co-executor of the following grants and government projects

• "Molecular and epidemiological characteristics of modern influenza"
• "Study of molecular genetic mechanisms of interaction between influenza viruses and infected cells by systemic virology methods"
• "Molecular biological characteristics of modern respiratory syncytial virus strains"
• "Maintenance of Influenza Surveillance Capacity in Russia" (CDC support grant NU51IP000854)

Epidemic Situation