Abstract text

The present invention relates to a cell-based method for producing influenza virus vaccines by enriching the population of surface-bound α2,6-sialic acid receptors on a cell surface, such as on a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell surface. The host cell therefore presents numerous binding sites to which an influenza virus can bind via its hemagglutinin spike protein and infect the host cell. In contrast to wild-type CHO cells, the surface of the mutated CHO cells of the present invention contains an enriched population of α2,6-sialic acid receptors which makes the inventive CHO cells highly susceptible to viral infection, and therefore safe, effective, and highly efficient cells for rapidly producing influenza vaccines.