A new cell line from the embryonic tissues of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and its susceptibility to certain flaviviruses

摘要

A new cell line from the embryonic tissue of Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito was established. Morphological studies carried out at the 45(th) passage level (P-45) showed four different cell types viz. epithelial-like cells, fibroblast-like cells, giant cells and vacuolated cells. Karyological studies indicated diploid (2n = 6) chromosomes in majority of cells irrespective of passage level. A twelve-fold increase of cell number was observed in 10 days at P-49. The cells could be preserved in liquid nitrogen for more than 40 months. Isoenzyme profile analysis with four enzymes clearly indicated that this cell line was derived from C tritaeniorhynchus. This cell line was susceptible to Japanese encephalitis (JEV) and West Nile viruses (V;W) but not to Dengue 1-4 (DEN 1-4) viruses. Protein of 3 8 K was detected in the membrane fraction of the cells from this and the C6/36 cell line, which was found to bind DEN 1-4 viruses. These data suggest that DEN viruses bind to this membrane protein and probably enter into the cells but do not continue further in the replication process.