This volume stems from a symposium sponsored by the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center, Lake Placid New York. The Second Annual W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center Symposium: Cell Substrates and­ Their Use in the Production of Vaccines and Other Biologicals was held October 23-26, 1978. The Center is an operational unit of the Tissue Culture Association and offers, in collaboration with the Association's Education Committee, a wide range of educational and research activities. During the past 20 years there have been numerous national and international conferences on the topic of cell cultures used to produce biological products. Those largely dealt with the technology and associated issues that were current at the time of the meetings. For example, as human diploid cells were developed and proposed for use in vaccine production, a number of meetings were held to examine the pros and cons of human diploid cells. A large amount of data was provided at those conferences which formed the basis for the eventual acceptance of that cell system. Each meeting added to the general base of knowledge in the area of cell cultures and their application to the current and novel set of problems encountered. In general, the participants reaffirmed the basic premises that were formulated in the early days of polio virus vaccine production regarding the criteria for acceptability of cells when used in the manufacture of biologics intended for humans.

Past Achievements - Future Expectations.- Past Achievements - Future Expectations.- Cell Substrates: General Overview.- Introductory Remarks.- Cell Substrates for Biologics Production: Factors Affecting Acceptability.- Quantitation in the Evaluation of Cell Substrates for Viral Vaccine Production.- Human Cells and the Finite Lifespan Theory.- Line Cell Saga - An Argument in Favor of Production of Biologics in Cancer Cells.- Viral Vaccine Substrates.- Introductory Remarks.- Viral Vaccines Under Development: A Third Generation.- Choice of Cell Substrate for Biological Products.- Recommendations for Inactivated Human Vaccines Produced on Human Diploid Cells.- The Spector of Malignancy and Criteria for Cell Lines as Substrates for Vaccines.- Cell Substrates for Biologicals other than Vaccines.- Introductory Remarks.- Interferon as a Cell Product.- Urokinase as a Cell Product.- Production of Biologicals by Plant Cell Cultures ..- Use of Recombinant DNA Technology for the Production of Polypeptides.- Molecular Biology and Public Health.- Summary and Considerations for the Future.- Introductory Remarks.- Benefit-Risk Assessment.- Ethical Considerations in the Selection of Cells and the Use of Biologicals.- Report of Ad Hoc Committee on Karyological Controls of Human Cell Substrates.