1. Introduction
The 1986 emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE) in ruminants has highlighted the danger associated with
meat or bone material from diseased cattle. This has naturally
led to an increased awareness of the risk of BSE or other
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) when using
animal-derived products in the manufacturing of human and
veterinary products such as pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and the European Agency for the
Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) both recommend
that manufacturers take action to minimize the risk of TSE
transmission through their processes (CBER, 2001; CPMP and
CVMP, 2004).
Since careful sourcing of growth media used in production of
vaccines, microbial enzymes, and cell banking remains the most
critical method for mitigating contamination of TSE, most
media suppliers now offer formulations designed to minimize
the risk of TSE contamination. Animal-based media with
components derived from animals that are bred and raised in
countries with historically low geographical BSE risk allows
media recipes and production plans to be maintained. However,
the possibility that the appearance of TSE in these regions could
outpace the industrial use of animal-derived products remains a
concern. Plant-derived peptones and media that are completely
free of animal material are potential long-term solutions to the
use of components of animal origin.